For progressive Taiwanese in the new millennium, the purpose of their “Double Tenth National Day” is not for the sake of pumping up self-esteem based on ethnic pride, economic or military power, ideological jingoism or geopolitical ambition. Much less it is for the sake of drumming up nationalistic chauvinism and hysteria directed against this or that perceived enemy of the people at home or abroad, reports “Taiwan Journal” on the occasion of Double Tenth Festival.
On the contrary, the spirit of this year's Double Tenth is a renunciation of its authoritarian past and rebuffing an authoritarian future. It is a time for the people of Taiwan to muse over and rededicate themselves to the bedrock values that go beyond their diversities, bind them together as a family and join them with the global family, the journal points out.
On Double Tenth 2005, Taiwan has much to be thankful for as well as much to be concerned about. Most gratifyingly, there has taken root among its citizens an appreciation of the preciousness of human liberty. They affirm the imperative — so eloquently expressed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in his recommendations on UN organizational reform titled "In Larger Freedom" — to establish national development and maintenance of peace and security on the advancement of human rights and democracy. Over the past two decades, the citizens of Taiwan have profoundly transformed themselves. What makes the Taiwanese a united people is their strong will to insist on saving their own collective soul, so that they could help others. Taiwan enjoys a high level of human-rights protection and opportunity for public participation in the government as well as transparency and accountability of the government. According to Freedom House, Inc.'s Freedom in the World 2005 survey, Taiwan is one of the few all over Asia that qualify as "free."
The journal observes that on the occasion of the Double Tenth Festival, Taiwan hopes that Beijing would accept Taipei's offers to conduct negotiations on topics of immediate and practical concern to both sides, such as fighting cross-strait crime and establishing a hot line to thwart misunderstandings that might lead to conflict. The agreements reached last year and this year between the two sides' representatives on special holiday charter flights and over-flights are encouraging examples of what is possible. It is hoped that Taiwan and China can build on such exchanges.