Growing up in Taiwan during the 1980s, the constant rallying cries for reunification with China were an ever-present part of my upbringing. Starting in primary school, we were encouraged to conclude our essays with fervent patriotic calls. For example, when writing about a school excursion, I would end it with a hope that the joy we experienced could one day be shared with our compatriots across the Taiwan Strait. Whatever the topics, students of my generation were well adapted to this formulaic approach.
Did we believe in what we wrote? Absolutely not. We simply followed the practice to earn good marks. And did our teachers believe it? Most likely not. They enforced it, perhaps to avoid trouble or to conform to the prevailing political climate. After all, martial law was still in full force then.
Thinking back on those days, three things stood out as perfect examples of how this adherence to the reunification theme permeated our educational experiences and beyond. They offer a somber glimpse into the complex sociopolitical dynamics of the time.
Antiquated Geography
In our school lessons, the government’s message was clear: our presence in Taiwan was considered temporary. We were taught that one day we would triumphantly return to the mainland, liberating its people from Communism. With that end goal in mind, it was imperative to develop an intimate knowledge of the mainland’s geography.
Consequently, we dedicated significant time to studying the intricate details of each of the 35 provinces, 2 autonomous regions, 12 municipalities, and 1 special administrative region. During exams, we were tasked with pinpointing the locations of mountains, rivers, mineral deposits, cities, and railroads, underscoring the importance of this knowledge.
However, imagine my dismay when I discovered that much of what I had committed to memory was outdated. Indeed, the mainland’s geography I had learned was based on the state of affairs in 1949. After winning the civil war, the Communist government rezoned the entire nation to 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities, and 2 special administrative regions. They constructed new railroads, recognized the independence of the region of Outer Mongolia as The Mongolian People’s Republic, and implemented numerous other changes. None were mentioned at all in the textbook I used.
Reflecting on the outdated education I had received, I once joked that this antiquated knowledge might come in handy during military maneuvers had we ever decided to reclaim the mainland; they could be our secret weapon akin to Morse codes. Alas, with the changes made by the Department of Education over the past two decades, which drastically reduced the focus on mainland China in the curriculum, even that one potentially useful application became irrelevant. My generation was among the last to be taught these outdated lessons. While I am glad that students nowadays are learning factual information, I still can’t believe that the educators of my time actually thought it a good idea to teach us antiquated geography.
Congress of Ten Thousand Years and Its Old Thieves
In anticipation of the eventual reunification, our congress boasted representatives from all corners of the country.
But how did these individuals secure such influential positions? Some had won their electoral seats in 1948 and relocated to Taiwan with the government after the Chinese Nationalist Party, also known as the Kuomintang (KMT), lost the civil war against the Communists. Others didn’t win the election then, but because their names were on the ballots, they automatically became next in line if there were openings in their districts.
With a true nationwide reelection not feasible, their terms kept getting extended. Some had held the positions for over four decades, amassing considerable wealth by consistently rubber-stamping all the legislations championed by the KMT. Fed up with this sorry state of affairs, people began protesting and calling for the abolishment of the “Congress of Ten Thousand Years” and the removal of its long-serving members, derisively labeled as “old thieves.” Eventually, dissent challenging their legitimacy and competence grew too loud to ignore. In 1991, a constitutional amendment declared that only residents of the “liberated zones” – comprising Taiwan and three other islets – could exercise full civil rights, compelling the “old thieves” into retirement. Their departure on December 31st, 1991, marked a significant milestone in Taiwan’s journey toward full-fledged democracy.
Anti-Communism Heroes
Under any circumstances, hijacking airplanes is a serious crime. Yet there was a period in Taiwan where such events could actually receive positive press coverage. How’s that possible? Well, it all boiled down to the government’s staunch stance against Communism. Any defections from China to Taiwan, regardless of how audacious, were paraded as proof that our fellow countrymen on the mainland were suffering. Perfect propaganda! Between 1960 and 1989, sixteen pilots from the People’s Liberation Army defected, hijacking 13 aircraft with Taiwan as their final destination. Two died during landing, seven flew to South Korea whose government provided them safe passage to Taiwan, while the remaining seven managed to arrive directly.
Hailed as Anti-Communism Heroes, those defectors were lavishly rewarded by the government with lots of cash and gold, plus housing and job placement assistance. In fact, the size of their rewards was in locked steps with the military aircraft they hijacked. Newer model, better prize!
However, the tide began to turn in 1983 when six civilians hijacked a commercial airline to Korea. After serving 15 months in jail, Korea turned them over to Taiwan. Hijacking commercial aircraft directly violated The Hague Hijacking Convention, creating an awkward situation for the Taiwan government, which continued to glorify the hijackers as Anti-Communism Heroes. The shift in stance was further catalyzed by the thawing relationship between China and Taiwan, leading to the bilateral agreement of treating commercial aircraft hijackers as what they were – criminals. There was one more contributing factor to this reversal. In 1993 alone, ten commercial airlines were hijacked to Taiwan. Initially breaking news, they soon received minimal media coverage and plenty of public ridicule. None received plump rewards. What awaited them were handcuffs, jail, and passage back to China.
Undoubtedly, some of the Anti-Communism Heroes defected out of idealism, but not all. The sudden wealth they received made them easy targets for scammers, leading to many squandered fortunes and, in two cases, death penalty for kidnapping and killing a hostage.
Today, the term Anti-Communism Hero is a relic, a poignant reminder of a turbulent past. I often find myself pondering: if these individuals could have foreseen China’s remarkable ascent to the world’s second largest economy, would they still have made the same choices? They sacrificed everything, leaving behind families with little chance of reunion unless they were willing to face imprisonment. Their legacy – if it can even be labeled as such – is the result of a complex interplay of ideology, personal conviction, and the unpredictable currents of global geopolitics.
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From 1949 to 1987, Taiwan was under martial law. It was during this period that the government began to confront the reality that its dream of reunification was just that – a dream. Despite the diminishing appeal of reunification as Taiwan embraced democracy, the question remains contentious. Officially known as the Republic of China, Taiwan has its own constitution, prints its own currency, and issues its own passport. It boasts a healthy and robust economy. Nonetheless, only a dozen or so nations recognize it as sovereign. Many in Taiwan are willing to forsake the claim of the mainland in exchange for independence, but that is unequivocally opposed by the People’s Republic of China. When and how might this complex issue find resolution? Only time will tell.
Vickie, schooling! what an eye opener.
Loved reading this amazing and personal glimpse into another time