Picture a China that is not ruled by the Communist Party, where freedom of speech is guaranteed, where a vibrant media aggressively pursue anti-corruption allegations, where people of all faiths can worship freely, where freedom of assembly is respected and where people are free to join non-governmental organizations and independent trade unions. Picture a China where free and fair elections are routinely held, opposition parties contest, and occasionally win office, and a former President was indicted and imprisoned for corruption. Wishful thinking? Little more than a pipe dream? The above depiction is actually of China, not the Peoples Republic of China but instead of the other China, namely the island of Taiwan.
For all those who argue that democracy in China is impossible and that there are unique cultural attributes within Chinese society that run counter to democratic norms and practices, Taiwan presents itself as the conflicting contrast. Moreover Taiwan’s recent political history is one that has seen a peaceful and gradual transition from a one-party authoritarian state to arguably one of the most democratic countries in East Asia as a whole. Potentially offering a model for a similar transition to democracy for China as a whole.
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