Misguided Chinese View of Taiwan's National Identity

It would be good if not that many Chinese officials share the mindset of scholar Hu Lingwei. But judging from the state of cross strait relations, I am afraid the reverse may be true.

In a July 2003 article, Hu, a scholar at the Shanghai Institute of East Asian Studies, addressed the issue of Taiwanese national identity.

Hu argued that the problem with the island's lack of national identity stems from a lack of Chinese identity.

He wrote: "Aside from the penetration of alien culture during the Japanese period, Taiwan society was historically grounded in Chinese culture - in the Ming and Qing dynasties and during the rule of the two Chiangs."

In Hu's view, it was China's growing power and international stature under the post-1978 policy of reform and opening up that had resulted in a loss of confidence in Taiwan, as well as the crisis of identity.

In my view, this is yet another indication of the "I-know-it-all-simply-because-I-am-bigger" attitude on the part of Beijing. So certain are Chinese mandarins of their own interpretation of contemporary history that they feel they have the right to dictate to the Taiwanese people how the latter should feel.

As other observers rightly pointed out, negative Chinese actions, such as the 1996 missile test, as well as Beijing's opposition to Taiwan's observership in the World Health Organization, have themselves strengthened Taiwanese identity - something that many in China could not or would not publicly acknowledge.