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social movement will surely meet resistance from the opposition. How did movement
opponents, primarily Taiwan’s opposition parties, counter-frame Chen’s social
construction work? Finally, what assessments and implications can we draw to elaborate
the future of Taiwan’s political development?
In 2000, the breath-taking presidential election campaign ended with a victory for the
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the ousting of the long ruling Nationalist Party
(KMT). Chen Shui-bian’s taking over the helm officially ended the Lee Teng-hui era
that began in 1988. Lee’s vision, personal conviction, and skillful maneuvering in
promoting Taiwan’s independent identity did successfully gain Taiwan a forceful and
unforgettable spot on the world stage for its economic vitality, democratization, and
diplomatic resilience. On the other hand, his uncompromising will on the issue of
Taiwan’s identity not only repeatedly provoked debates on the ethnic identity issue
domestically, but also frequently put cross-strait relations in roller-coaster suspense.
Hence, the immediate priority for President Chen after his inauguration in May 2000 was
to adopt a more moderate stance, putting aside his support for a new, independent
Taiwanese state and appealing for the resumption of cross-strait dialogue. Although this
cautious approach maintained a sense of fragile amity across the strait, the basic divide
between Taiwan and China remains. This translates into a domestic tug of war around
state identity between pro-independence and anti-independence forces.
Ground Work
The achievement of a new state identity possesses the quality of collective good. The
realization of a “new” state identity, if accomplished, will be “consumed” by everyone,
Convention