Double Standard Politicians Transferring Bad Karma unto Themselves
By Wang Chi-hsiung
United Daily News, January 9, 2021
Taiwan's Sunflower Movement, Hong Kong's Umbrella Movement, and America’s recent protests storing the Capitol: The power of karma is really quick to transfer with the turn of history!
In 2014, the protesters against Cross-Strait Agreement on Trade in Services occupied the Legislative Yuan for 24 days. The State Department of the United States appealed to the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou to enter a peaceful negotiation with the protesters. Two years later, President Ma's Kuomintang (KMT) lost the election. After President Tsai Ing-wen took power, the leaders of the Sunflower movement all got promoted. However, the Tsai administration not only did not abrogate the so called "sugar-coated poison" Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), it also pleaded mainland China not to revoke ECFA.
In 2019, protesters against the extradition law amendment bill in Hong Kong occupied Mong Kok, set the subway on fire, looted the shops and attacked the innocent pedestrians. The United States called the demonstration a "beautiful sight to behold" and warned the Hong Kong government not to suppress the movement by military force. After the heat of the protest subsided, China passed the Hong Kong national security law and arrested protest leaders such as Jimmy Lai, Joshua Wong, and Agnes Chow.
In 2021, incited by President Donald Trump, supporters took up the United States Capitol. Trump continuously appealed to his supporters not to accept the result of the election, using instigating languages. Consequently, a group of zealous fans occupied the Capitol by force at the time when the Congress is certifying the result of the electoral votes. The National Guard and police were ordered to clear the scene, resulting in four deaths. Seeing there is no hope of turning the election result around, President Trump promised in public a peaceful transfer of power.
From these three movements, we see the disgusting double standard in democracy. If it could endanger your own power, then the protesters are "reactionary mobs." If it could sabotage the government of your opponent, then the protesters are called "heroes of democratic movement." In order to pull you down, the ECFA is "sugar-coated poison." After you assume power, ECFA becomes a "win-win situation for both sides of the Taiwan Strait." When the KMT was in power, increased exports to mainland China equated to “selling out” Taiwan. After Democratic Progressive Party took power, the increased dependence on the mainland market becomes "China needs Taiwan."Amazingly, these nauseating flip-flop narratives still have believers.
On the occupation of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, the outspoken President Tsai and organizers of the parade supporting President Trump in Taiwan did not say a single word. What can we say about this kind of double standard in our democracy?
(The author is a university professor in Illinois.)