Taiwan is already a `normal country'
By Mao Ching-chen 毛慶禎, Translated by Ted Yang
Taipei Times Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007, Page 8
The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) 12th national congress last
month passed the party's "normal country" resolution. The party
considers this a significant development that will have an impact on
the presidential election next year and also serve as an index for
party unity.
After researching the meaning of "country" for the purpose of my
teaching, I have found that the public's understanding of the concept
is too narrow, and we almost seem paranoid in the way we have trapped
ourselves in a cul de sac, while blaming an imaginary enemy.
The fact is that Taiwan is a normal country in every aspect and there's
no need for us to look down on ourselves.
There are many ways to look at the definition of "country." The 192 UN
members and observer states are de jure independent states.
There are nine de facto independent states, including the Republic of
China which is currently recognized by 24 countries; six independent
states that are not internationally recognized, including Abkhazia,
Nagorno-Karabakh, Northern Cyprus, Somaliland, South Ossetia and
Transnistria; two states that are recognized by many countries but not
yet independent, namely Palestine and Western Sahara; and five
territories whose sovereignty is more controversial than Taiwan's,
namely, Jubaland, Puntland, Cabinda, Kosovo and Kurdistan.
Also there are 58 dependent territories administered by Australia,
Denmark, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the UK and the
US.
Currently, 71 entities are excluded from the UN. If Taiwan's situation
is considered tragic, then the people of the 70 other entities should
be overwhelmed with sorrow.
The World Bank classifies its 208 members into four categories
according to their per capita GNP. The organization places 58 economies
in the low income category, US$905 or less; 54 in lower middle income
category, US$906 to US$3,595; 40 economies in the upper middle income
category, US$3,596 to US$11,115; and 55 in the high income category,
US$11,116 or more. Of those in the high income category, 24 are members
of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Taiwan's per capita GNP last year was US$16,098, higher than that of
more than 150 countries, placing it in the middle of the high income
category. As the Taiwan's economy is so strong, the government should
ponder such long-term goals as the improvement of living standards and
education instead of sticking to short-term issues and worrying the
public.
The term "Third World" was coined by French economist Alfred Sauvy in
an article in 1952 to refer to the countries that belonged neither to
the industrialized capitalist world nor to the industrialized communist
bloc.
Most of these countries are what is now called developing countries. IN
1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the UN proposed the Human
Development Index (HDI) to replace the term "Third World." The HDI
measures well-being, education and economic performance.
What is the HDI for Taiwan then? We will know after Taiwan enters the
UN.
The International Movement ATD Fourth World, an organization that
fights extreme poverty, has shown that there are people in developed
and developing countries who are fighting for dignity every day and who
have not been able to enjoy the fruits of their ancestors.
While fighting over issues such as national competitiveness and
economic growth, have we ever considered our international
responsibilities as a normal country?
Mao Ching-chen is an associate professor in the Library and Information
Science Department at Fu Jen Catholic University.