Domestic Torch Travel

One nation... two nations... one nation, two systems? This has been the long debate between China and Taiwan. Up until recently however, the topic has been somewhat pushed aside as both governments attempt to work on a more integrated economic level. The 2008 Olympics though, have resurfaced supressed sentiments and the conflict rages again. On April 26, Beijing announced the longest torch relay in Olympic history, lasting 130-days and covering 85,000 miles ( New York Times . This journey includes passing through Taiwan, which is designated as part of the domestic route. Within hours however, Taiwan rejected the plan, stating that the torch would have to enter from and go on to countries other than Mainland China, separating it from the domestic route. In an attempt to resolve the situation, the Olympic committee has established that the torch will enter from Vietnam and leave Taiwan for Hong Kong. Yet, Taiwan still rejects this proposal and has stated that if the Beijing government does not change the torch’s course, Taiwan will boycott the Olympics ( China Post ).
While this situation seems extremely problematic, it is only a glimpse of the difficulties that lay ahead. If the torch does pass through Taiwan, Hau Lung-bin, the mayor of Taipei, says that it will be carried, “past the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park, which the government wants to rename the Democracy Memorial Park” ( China Post ). With Chiang Kai-shek being the head of Kuomintang party, and having lead the party in the Chinese Civil War against Mao Zedong and then fleeing to Taiwan and refusing to relinquish the island to communist forces, resulting in the situation of today, I’m sure the Beijing government will be thrilled. Events like this are bound to be numerous and how they will unfold will be an interesting process, which I am excited to witnes..