Taiwan's presidential candidates are vigorously campaigning for the upcoming presidential election. To observe this ongoing campaign, one simply has to pay a visit to the individual headquarters of the two presidential candidates, respectively. In 2008, many voters seem to be reacting calmly or even indifferently to the election, while in the 2000 and 2004 elections, intense interest was aroused among voters nationwide and candidates headquarters were swarming with supporters. Yet this hustle and bustle hasn't yet been seen in 2008.
From the perspective of the media, the two opposing parties are debating several controversial issues. Almost all international flights to Taiwan during election time have been fully booked. Taiwanese people living overseas continue to show their undiminished passion by returning home to cast a vote. Despite this, voters' passions never seem to run very high.
Voting in a presidential election
In 1996, the first island-wide democratic election was conducted, despite the threat of a military attack by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Lee Teng-hui was voted in as the first democratically elected president. In 2000, Taiwan there was a shift of ruling parties. On the eve of the 2004 presidential election, Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu were both shot. Afterwards, the opposing parties demanded a recount. Because of these past events the Taiwanese people are comfortably familiar with the 2008 presidential election.
In 1954, Taiwanese people enjoyed their right to vote directly in their townships and municipalities. Since the first election, the Kuomintang (KMT) as the ruling party has never got an overwhelming majority of the popular vote. In 2008, in the Taiwanese Legislative Yuan Election, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), as the ruling party, experienced an unprecedented loss.
Whether the election leads to failure or success, whether people feel contented or resentful, generally speaking, people have learned to win and lose gracefully. People have learned to calmly accept the results of the election.
Why are Taiwanese people able to take the results of the election so calmly? It's because those with the right to vote don't have to risk their lives. The voters just have to wait four years for another chance. Before the next election, those elected but untrusted will be placed under voters' strict scrutiny. People are the masters of their own country.
Who will win? who will lose?
Let's use the United States as an example. Every time Taiwan's election results were announced, the U.S. president or U.S. Congress would send Taiwan a congratulatory message, or announce in a press conference, "This is a victory for all Taiwanese people." When the results of the upcoming election are publicized, this message will be announced once again. If the victory is for all Taiwanese people, who are the losers?
The democratic government in Taiwan is in striking contrast to the CCP's dictatorship. That's why the CCP's state-owned media is stuck in a dilemma over Taiwan's democracy. On one hand, they want to vigorously propagate the evil deeds and disgraceful manners exposed in the democratic election. On the other hand, they fear Chinese people will have a good view of democratic elections.
Recently the KMT's honorary chairman, Lien Chan, paid several visits to China. Therefore, it has been suspected that the CCP prefers the KMT to the DPP. Yet the CCP has frequently adopted tactics like "uniting minor enemies to strike at major enemies." At present, the CCP labels the DPP a "major enemy." But if the KMT were to win this presidential election, it would transform itself from a "minor enemy" to a "major enemy." Consequently, no matter which political party wins the presidential election, the CCP will never get rid of one of its "major enemies." In a nutshell, this "major enemy" is neither the KMT nor the DPP, but democracy. Democracy is the real enemy of the CCP.
The 2008 presidential election in Taiwan will definitely lead to a victory for all Taiwanese people. Yet, there is only one loser in the election—neither the DPP nor the KMT, but the CCP.
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