YOU Si-kun: Reviving the inherent "Taiwanese spirit" to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty and democracy gained by tears and blood

President You attended the international conference “Global Solidarity for Taiwan’s Democracy” organized by and in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD) on July 18, 2023. Among other distinguished guests, President Tsai Ing-wen, Chief Executive Officer of TFD Huang Yu-Ling and Chief Executive Officer of National Endowment for Democracy Damon Wilson were in attendance.

President You expressed gratitude to the distinguished guests participating in the 20th anniversary celebration of the TFD. On behalf of the foundation, he extended a sincere welcome to all guests and special thanks to Mr. Wilson for coming all the way from the United States.

President You stated that this year marks the 20th anniversary of TFD. It is also the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s democratic parliament after its first ever general election. Additionally, it is the 100th anniversary of the "Security Police Incident" initiated by pioneers like Shi Huan-Chang and Chiang Wei-shui, who organized the first legitimate political association in Taiwan's history, leading to a political persecution of 99 people. Looking back on Taiwan’s history, the century-long pursuit of democracy has earned Taiwan a great reputation in international community. It wasn’t the gift from heaven but was built upon the blood and tears of those predecessors.

President You went on to state that in the past decade dire situations such as anti-extradition protests in Hong Kong, Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, coup d'état in Myanmar and the Russian invasion of Ukraine were indications that the global map of democracy has dwindled. The "Freedom In The World 2022" report published by Freedom House in the United States pointed out that 60 countries suffered declines in democracy. Those setbacks in the global democratic community stem from insufficient democratic consolidation. For example, even though Taiwan’s democratic achievements are acclaimed internationally, it is still surrounded by various dangers, including the historical legacy of authoritarian education, ubiquitous cognitive warfare and overwhelming intimidation from the warplanes and navy vessels of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

President You noted that TFD was established not only to "support democratization in Asia and across the world" but also to "promote democracy education and international exchanges through global academia, think tanks, parliaments, and political parties, enhancing and consolidating Taiwan’s democratic development." To this end, he believes that it is essential for all Taiwan citizens to be fully aware of Taiwan's history of democratic development and carry forward the spirit of pioneers who strived for democracy and fought against authoritarianism with perseverance. 99 years ago, Tsai Hui-ru wrote down a piece of poetry “Unforgettable Memories” before being imprisoned due to the "Security Police Incident"：Going away from my hometown in sorrow. With determination, I enter the prison. At Qingshui Station, the crowd of people sees me off. Elders and youth together see me off, offering endless comfort. The mountains are high, the waters distant, and the love is profound. I feel so happy that people gradually awaken, and suffering is of no concern." Lai Ho, another imprisoned political figure, composed lines as follows: The world has changed and become unfamiliar to my eyes. This body fought against the world's ways,” “The world should not tolerate tyranny; warriors should strive for justice." President You found those figures’ spirit most commendable.

President You also quoted U.S. President Thomas Jefferson’s statement："The tree of liberty must be nurtured from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. The democratic achievements in Taiwan today are the result of the perseverance and indomitable spirit of the predecessors, who demonstrated the unyielding "Taiwanese spirit".

Over the past century, Taiwan has gone through a great deal of turmoil. Ever since the Taiwanese embraced a new era of enlightenment in 1921, 99 people were persecuted in the "Security Police Incident" of 1923. What followed was the "228 Incident" of 1947, with a death toll around 18,000 to 28,000. Then there were over 20,000 victims during the 40 years of White Terror since 1949, including the imprisonment of Lei Chen in 1960. In 1979, the "Formosa Incident" made 51 people serving sentences which amount to over 220 years; There were unsolved murder cases of Lin’s family in 1980 and Chen Wen-chen in 1981, and subsequently judicial persecutions such as “Cheng Nan-jung Case” and "Peng-Lai Island magazine" case involving Chen Shui-bian. It really was the unwavering commitments and sacrifices of Taiwanese people that led to easing the ban on forming political parties in 1986, the lifting of martial law in 1987, and political reforms initiated by former President Lee Teng-hui. President You pointed out that if we don’t cherish these hard won achievements, the young generations might need to bleed for freedom once again.

President You further emphasized that the will of the people is the best defense, and only by reviving the inherent "Taiwanese spirit" can Taiwan effectively defend its sovereignty and democracy. The theme of the foundation's 20th anniversary "Global Solidarity for Democracy" aims to rally likeminded international partners to actively support Taiwan and jointly resist the intimidation and aggression by authoritarian states. Just like Ukraine, Taiwan stands on the front line against dictatorship. President You stressed that in the face of endless bullying and provocation from the CCP, Taiwanese are committed to defending universal values for human beings. He also called for active cooperation among international democracies to collectively resist the expansion of authoritarianism and maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

President You once again thanked the guests for visiting Taiwan despite the threats from authoritarian states are omnipresent across the globe. Their staunch support are greatly appreciated by all Taiwanese. TFD would make more efforts in promoting human rights and democracy at home and abroad. President You concluded his remarks by wishing all distinguished guests good health, safety and prosperity.