3156 Edition
August 20-26, 2012
Editorial

Translated by Lydia Ma

A recent opinion poll showed that 55% of Taiwanese support the idea of Taiwan becoming a new and independent country, while a mere 18.6% of Taiwanese support eventual unification with China. This is a sharp contrast to 1977, when PCT first issued the “PCT Declaration on Human Rights”, wherein it advocated for the creation of a new and independent country.

When this statement was released on August 16, 1977, the KMT government at the time was up in arms with the PCT while the rest of the world was impressed. In the 35 years following this declaration, the PCT has enjoyed the company of a few others who share the same vision. However, as we walk the “last mile” before reaching this destination, we must ask ourselves whether or not we are ready to continue on this road.

The PCT “Declaration on Human Rights” states, “Our church confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord of all mankind and believes that human rights and a land in which each one of us has a stake are gifts bestowed by God. Therefore, we make the declaration, set in the context of the present crisis threatening the 17 million people of Taiwan [….] We therefore request President Carter to continue to uphold the principles of human rights while pursuing the "normalization of relationships with Communist China" and to insist on guaranteeing the security, independence and freedom of the people of Taiwan [….] We insist that the future of Taiwan shall be determined by the 17 million people who live there [….] In order to achieve our goal of independence and freedom for the people of Taiwan in this critical international situation, we urge our government to face reality and to take effective measures whereby Taiwan may become a new and independent country [….] We beseech God that Taiwan and all the rest of the world may become a place where "mercy and truth will meet together; righteousness and peace will embrace. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven" (Psalm 85:10, 11).”

Ten years after this declaration was published, “Taiwan Church News” published a special issue on the 228 Massacre and the issue was confiscated by the government, which viewed “Taiwanese independence” as a threat. A few months later, Cheng Nan-jung, wrote the following on Freedom Era Weekly: “I am a son of a Mainlander, I support Taiwanese independence. My inspiration comes from the PCT’s Declaration on Human Rights issued 10 years ago.”

On the 30th anniversary of this statement, the PCT appointed a taskforce to organize celebrations and also look into ways to further Taiwanese identity and the creation of a “new and independent country”. That year, no one opposed these efforts and the DPP government at the time even applauded the move. But at the end of the day, more was done to celebrate than to achieve the goals set forth in the statement. This phenomenon, makes one wonder whether Christians who daily cry out “Lord, may Your kingdom come!”, are very afraid of such a kingdom deep down in their hearts.

Now, 35 years after the PCT’s “Declaration on Human Rights” statement, political power has changed hands and people’s desires have changed. Our country is once again hanging on the edge of a cliff because there are some powerful figures in Taiwan that are China-leaning.

Nevertheless, I am confident that PCT will be remembered by future generations not because of its great assets but because of what it has done for this land and how much it has suffered for this land. In contrast, those who are more interested in securing their lucrative CEO positions will be merely the object of ridicule and gossip later on.