DPP’s Dalai Lama invitation unwise
- Source: Global Times
- [00:01 August 28 2009]
- Comments
Cross-Straits ties suffered a twist when Taiwan approved a visit from the Dalai Lama.
The claimed purpose of the Dalai Lama's visit is to comfort victims of typhoon Morakot and meet religious followers – an excuse the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party can hardly dispute given how badly the disaster has traumatized Taiwan. Still, it is expected the visit will include meetings with politicians and political speeches.
The Dalai Lama was invited by top politicians from seven southern Taiwanese counties, home to the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Ever since the DPP lost the “presidential” election last year, its influence has been badly damaged by serious corruption scandals and internal power struggles.
The DPP desperately needs a rallying point with a county-level election set for next year. Any incident that might provoke the Chinese mainland will be useful in wooing die-hard supporters.
It is a perfect opportunity for both the DPP and the Dalai Lama, who has been hoping to visit Taiwan for a long time. But the DPP knows the Dalai Lama is not a purely religious figure and his role is becoming increasingly political.
The timing of the Dalai Lama's planned visit is also ideal for the DPP, since the KMT and its leader, Ma Ying-jeou, are suffering a political setback because of poor disaster relief efforts after the typhoon left 291 people dead.
A prayer ceremony to be attended by the Dalai Lama and top opposition politicians from the south is being arranged for August 31. The DPP claims typhoon survivors bear huge psychological scars, and the soothing message from the spiritual leader will give them much-needed comfort.
But the seemingly caring approach simply does not stand up to scrutiny, since those hit hardest in the typhoon are mostly aboriginal residents in the south, the majority of whom are Catholic and Christian. For them, what's the point of having a Buddhist monk come from far away to pray?
It is a political maneuver intended to upset cross-Straits relations, which have witnessed significant progress with hard work from both sides.
Taiwan just suffered a dreadful natural disaster. Relief efforts should be the top priority, to which end Chinese mainlanders have contributed great efforts. Politicizing survivors to meet the political ends of the Dalai Lama and the DPP is unwise and inhumane.
