Jasmine Action No. 763 Calls for the Release of Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho, and Chow Hang-tung
Author: Liu Fang Editor: Li Jing Managing Editor: Luo Zhifei Proofreader: Cheng Xiaoxiao
Abstract:In recent years, the Chinese Communist Party has dismantled Hong Kong’s democracy and rule of law through increasingly coercive measures, prompting solidarity and protests from democracy advocates around the world. Recently, the National Committee of the China Democracy Party held the 763rd Jasmine Action in Los Angeles to voice support for Hong Kong democrats unlawfully detained by the CCP.
At the 763rd Jasmine Action rally organized by the National Committee of the China Democracy Party on November 8, 2025, in front of the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles, party members called on the international community to continue paying close attention to the prolonged detention of three key figures of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China—Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho, and Chow Hang-tung—and demanded that the CCP and Hong Kong authorities immediately and unconditionally release all three.
At the event, hosts Yuan Jue and Peng Xiaomei highlighted the steadfastness and contributions of the three detained activists: Lee Cheuk-yan, who has spent decades fighting for workers’ dignity and labor rights; Albert Ho, who has long defended vulnerable groups and human rights as a lawyer; and Chow Hang-tung, who has safeguarded historical memory through her writings and public advocacy.
The trial of the Hong Kong Alliance case has been repeatedly postponed, while the three democracy advocates have been held for over 1,500 days and 1,200 days respectively without any formal trial. Using “pre-trial detention” as a substitute for due judicial process constitutes a blatant form of political punishment and gravely undermines the foundations of Hong Kong’s rule of law.
“The CCP and the Hong Kong authorities are trampling on the law in the most despicable way. What they call judicial procedure has already become a tool of persecution.”
I too have been deeply influenced by Hong Kong’s culture—a culture rooted in democracy and the rule of law. There was a time when Hong Kong’s prosperity and freedom moved me profoundly; yet today, as I watch independent thinkers being arrested one after another and friends who yearn for freedom forced into exile, I can only lament how the Pearl of the Orient has dimmed, its former brilliance fading away. From the forced shutdown of Apple Daily, to the dissolution of the Hong Kong Alliance; from democracy figures like Lee Cheuk-yan and Albert Ho being charged with “inciting subversion,” to Chow Hang-tung imprisoned for her steadfast commitment to commemorating June Fourth; from the disappearance of protest signs on the streets, to the censorship imposed even on library books—Hong Kong has fallen from a city of freedom into a city of fear. All of this is the direct consequence of the implementation of the National Security Law.
In my remarks, I emphasized that Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho, and Chow Hang-tung have consistently upheld the four core values of truth, justice, conscience, and freedom. They believe that commemorating June Fourth is not a crime but an indelible moral memory of Hong Kong society. “They have paid the price of their own freedom to preserve Hong Kong’s last vestige of conscience. Even in prison, their voices continue to illuminate each of us.”
The event’s initiator, Ni Shicheng, further spoke about the well-known Operation Yellowbird, which rescued June Fourth activists and stands as one of the Hong Kong Alliance’s most important covert missions after 1989. It symbolized Hong Kong’s role as a vital defender of a free society prior to the handover of sovereignty.
As the rally drew to a close, all participants joined in singing “Glory to Hong Kong.” They urged all people who care about human rights and the rule of law to continue pressuring the CCP and the Hong Kong authorities so that these three democracy advocates will not be forgotten.
The event ended with music and applause from supporters. The organizers stated that they will continue advancing international efforts to bring global attention to the plight of Hong Kong democrats who have been unlawfully detained.
— The CCP’s Political Weapon for Diverting Domestic Tensions
Abstract:As China’s economy falls into a structural crisis, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) increasingly relies on nationalism and external conflicts to divert domestic tensions. The Taiwan Strait has thus become a highly volatile flashpoint. This article analyzes the CCP’s potential paths of political adventurism from three structural dimensions: its economic deterioration, its systematic infiltration of Taiwan and the West, and the United States’ strategic containment in the Indo-Pacific. Taiwan’s security is not merely a regional matter, but a shared responsibility of the global democratic community. Facing the external-provocation logic inherent to authoritarian regimes, Taiwan and the international community must remain alert and deepen cooperation to protect freedom, democracy, and the values of human civilization from authoritarian erosion.
Author: Deng Xiaoyong Editor: Wang Mengmeng Executive Editor: Liu Fang Proofreading: Cheng Xiaoxiao Translation: Liu Fang
Los Angeles Time: November 14, 2025
When ideology and authoritarianism rise to justify absolute power, and when narrow ethnonationalism becomes mainstream, societies inevitably drift toward national-Bolshevism, militarism, and ultimately theocratic fascism. This is not a theoretical hypothesis but a realistic political trajectory facing contemporary China.
Looking back, from the 1980s proposal of “One Country, Two Systems for Taiwan” to Xi Jinping’s “Five Proposals” in 2019, the signs are clear: the CCP has long coveted Taiwan—a strategically positioned and resource-rich island. If one must name the “great accomplishment” that the CCP dreams of above all, its top priority is the domination of Taiwan. Any peace-loving person must confront this reality. From the perspective of international discourse, the territorial issue the CCP is truly obsessed with has never been the 5.8 million square kilometers taken by Russia, nor the barren contested areas between China and India, but Taiwan—a land symbolizing freedom, democracy, advanced technology, and maritime strategic power.
On the positive side, Taiwan–U.S. relations have strengthened this year, especially after major Taiwanese tech corporations increased capital investment in the United States in September. This is significant because while the CCP may prepare for aggression, only the world’s “police force”—the United States—has the capacity to deter Beijing from acting recklessly. Yet this does not mean Taiwan can let down its guard. The specter hanging above Taiwan remains real. Understanding the CCP’s potential actions requires examining three structural factors that shape its political motivations and risks.
1. China’s economy is collapsing structurally: provocations abroad serve as a shortcut for shifting domestic crises
Wrapping a planned economy in the appearance of a market economy, placing real estate at the core in violation of economic principles, and rejecting Hayek’s spontaneous order—all of this non-spontaneous, utopian economic engineering was destined to decline. China’s current collapsing economic landscape makes this abundantly clear.
When a nation enters its “garbage time of history,” even small shocks can trigger cascading crises. In such a context, manufacturing external enemies, inflaming nationalism, and diverting domestic discontent becomes the CCP’s most common—and most dangerous—political tool.Thus, the responsibility for CCP’s internal pressure is pushed onto the Taiwan Strait.
2. CCP infiltration of Taiwan and the Western world has become increasingly systematic
During the Cold War, the greatest threat to an authoritarian system like the CCP’s was neither public resistance nor elite power struggles—it was the global wave of democratization. In June 2025, prosecutors in Taipei indicted four PRC nationals for espionage, including classified-information leaks and providing intelligence to China.
The internet revolution transformed communication channels, and economic globalization made cultural infiltration more convenient. The CCP’s objective is to suppress, interfere with, and even hijack the democratic momentum gaining strength worldwide—manipulating divisions, deepening social fractures, and undermining the Christian heritage, conservative values, and moral frameworks of Western societies.
This is a “pre-battlefield” without smoke. Taiwan and the democratic world have long been forced to confront it.
3. The United States plays a decisive role in containing the axis of authoritarianism
To deter the CCP, Taiwan and the United States must ensure Beijing understands the cost of invading Taiwan.
In October 2025, President Lai Ching-te announced in his National Day address that Taiwan would accelerate construction of the multi-layered missile defense system known as T-Dome, increase defense spending beyond 3% of GDP, and aim for 5% by 2030.
We should expect new U.S. strategic deployments across the Indo-Pacific and South China Sea, stronger Taiwan-U.S. military coordination, and deeper security partnerships. These preparations are essential for a potential crisis that may define the post–Cold War order—echoing the man-made catastrophes once caused by the Soviet regime.
Since World War II, no contribution to human peace and global civilization has been greater than that of the United States. Peace in the Taiwan Strait likewise depends on the United States.
From the eve of the First Sino-Japanese War to the Qing Dynasty’s reckless declaration of war against eleven nations, to the CCP’s own military ventures such as the Battle of Kinmen, history repeatedly demonstrates the same truth: authoritarian regimes operate like a fully drawn bow—once tightened, it becomes impossible not to release the arrow.
When Xi Jinping proclaims himself the “compass of the world,” when unscripted speeches themselves carry risks, when personal ambition fuses with political power, and when a regime deifies itself into believing it can shape the storm, miscalculation becomes inevitable—and disaster follows.
History is often written as a hymn for victors, but at times, it also becomes a hymn for the shameless and the murderous. Victory or defeat means little; the lives of ordinary people mean even less. What matters to authoritarian rulers is preserving power, shifting blame, and reversing openness—then pointing the finger at the West.
From the democratic perspective, legitimate power belongs to the people. In today’s China, the true “master of the country” is unquestionably the Communist Party, not the people. In Taiwan—a free, democratic, and lawful society—the people are the sovereign. Therefore, the CCP’s predatory ambition and anti-human designs to forcibly annex Taiwan will inevitably fail, ultimately punished by the international community and modern civilization.
From a theological perspective, power comes from God, not from individuals. Power must serve justice and compassion. When power becomes tyranny—like Pharaoh blocking the Israelites’ exodus—no human authority can stand against God’s sovereignty. It will eventually be overthrown by divine judgment.
We call on the CCP to respect mainstream public opinion in Taiwan, cease intimidation, and abandon coercion and manipulation. Only peaceful coexistence serves the best interests of both sides of the Strait.
Let us together defend this free, democratic, beautiful, and prosperous land—Taiwan, a sanctuary of modern civilization.
Abstract:Pro-democracy activists in San Francisco held a large-scale rally in front of the Chinese Consulate to commemorate the United States’ first “Anti-Communism Week,” calling for resistance against totalitarianism and the defense of freedom. Members of the China Democracy Party delivered speeches exposing the CCP’s brutality, denouncing ideological control, and urging international attention to human rights abuses. Participants emphasized that freedom must be protected across generations and that fascism and authoritarianism will ultimately fail.
The early winter air in the Bay Area was crisp, and the wind sweeping across the bay stirred both the American flag and long-buried memories in many hearts. On November 7, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a presidential proclamation officially designating November 2–8 as the first Anti-Communism Week in American history. It marks the first time the United States has established a national commemorative week to mourn the hundreds of millions who lost their lives under communist regimes worldwide.
Against this historic backdrop, at 2 p.m. on November 15 (Pacific Time), members of the China Democracy Party (CDP) and local pro-democracy activists gathered in front of the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco. Activists from across the Bay Area, along with advocates for religious freedom, participated in the rally, giving tangible form to this historic moment through public assembly.
It was a collective voice raised in a free land on behalf of those who cannot speak.
The Political and Historical Significance Behind America’s First Anti-Communism Week
According to the White House proclamation, Anti-Communism Week aims to remind American society that communist regimes have caused over 100 million unnatural deaths in the past century, destroying nations, cultures, religions, traditions, and family structures. The administration emphasized that this is not just history—it is an ongoing global threat.
Scholars have described this proclamation as one of the clearest ideological statements from the United States since the Cold War. The Trump administration declared: “Opposing communism is not only America’s responsibility but the shared mission of all who cherish freedom.”
With this backdrop, pro-democracy activists in the Bay Area chose the Chinese Consulate as the site of their rally, linking the international political moment to their own histories, experiences, and destinies.
At the Rally: Banners Raised, Voices Unifying
Speakers from the Bay Area’s pro-democracy community took turns addressing the crowd, declaring their commitment to freedom and condemning authoritarian rule. Their speeches were met repeatedly with applause and rallying chants. The themes varied: Some spoke from a historical and global perspective; Others grounded their remarks in faith, humanity, and morality; Still others shared personal experiences to demonstrate how totalitarianism infiltrates every corner of daily life.
Cui Yunxing: “Communism and socialism are built on lies”
Cui Yunxing, Deputy Director of the Activity Department of the CDP’s San Francisco Chapter, served as the event’s host. He stated plainly: “Communism and socialism are fundamentally systems built on lies and responsible for countless crimes against humanity. We must oppose not only communism but also socialism.”
Event Host and Deputy Director of the CDP Activity Department, Cui Yunxing (Photo by Miao Qing)
CDP Deputy Director of Publicity, Miao Qing, emphasized that Anti-Communism Week is more than symbolic—it is a warning from the free world to authoritarian regimes.
He stated that over the past century, communist governments have invoked “equality” and “liberation” while in reality creating surveillance states, ideological prisons, and countless unjust deaths.
“Freedom is not a gift from heaven—it must be safeguarded across generations.” Miao noted that after the Cold War, many believed authoritarianism would naturally fade. Instead, it re-emerged under new labels such as “social justice,” “welfare,” and “democratic socialism.” “We must not be deceived by old lies wrapped in new packaging. A nation’s greatness comes from the freedom of its people, not the power of its government.
Event Organizer, Deputy Director of Publicity of the CDP San Francisco Chapter, Miao Qing (Photo by Guan Yongjie)
Zhuang Fan: “Freedom is never innate—it is earned when people stand up”
CDP member and publicity worker Zhuang Fan highlighted that freedom does not come on its own:
“Freedom does not walk toward the people. The people must walk toward freedom.”
He reviewed the century-long global expansion of communism—mass arrests, torture, surveillance systems, censorship, and man-made tragedies—and warned that the CCP’s totalitarianism poses a threat not only domestically but globally.
“Evil does not disappear through silence. Totalitarianism does not stop expanding because of false stability.” He concluded: “Communism must be nailed to the graveyard of history.”
China Democracy Party Member and Publicity Staffer, Zhuang Fan (Photo by Guan Yongjie)
Gao Yingfen: “The essence of communist tyranny is the suppression of human dignity” CDP member Gao Yingfen presented a more philosophical analysis, stating: “Communism is not merely a set of policies—it is a theory built upon the denial of human dignity.” She argued that authoritarian regimes disguise themselves skillfully:“Equality” covers dictatorship；“Welfare” covers the stripping of freedom; “Justice” masks total social control. “No matter the disguise, the outcome is always surveillance, oppression, and fear.” She urged global vigilance: “We speak out not to create division, but to prevent the repetition of past tragedy.” “Those living under totalitarian rule are not forgotten—they are the conscience of the free world.”
China Democracy Party Member Gao Yingfen (Photo by Guan Yongjie)
Li Shuqing: “The failure of communism is the final verdict on authoritarian ideology”
CDP member Li Shuqing returned to historical facts.He summarized the catastrophes caused by communism around the world—from the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe to Cambodia and China.
He stated: “No government can sacrifice present humanity in the name of a promised future. People are not tools. Thought is not a crime. Faith should never be forced.” He noted that countless lives lost in China’s labor camps, interrogation rooms, and secret detention facilities form the foundation for truth’s eventual revival.
China Democracy Party Member Li Shuqing (Photo by Guan Yongjie)
Li Kai: “Defending democracy is defending human dignity”
CDP member Li Kai compared authoritarian and democratic systems, pointing out: The CCP suppresses dissent in the name of “stability.” It removes freedom in the name of “development.” It centralizes power in the name of “ideology.” “The greatest harm of authoritarianism is teaching people to grow accustomed to the absence of freedom.”
He reminded the crowd: “Democracy requires oversight. Freedom requires defense. Silence enables tyranny.”
China Democracy Party Member Li Kai (Photo by Guan Yongjie)
Guo Chao: “The CCP mirrors fascist systems—its danger must be confronted”
CDP member Guo Chao drew direct comparisons between the CCP’s governance and fascist structures: Monopoly on power; Personality cult; Ideological uniformity; Violent suppression of dissent; A single “national voice”
He noted that recent years have seen even tighter controls under the CCP, including aggressive propaganda, intensified censorship, and unprecedented political centralization. “So-called ‘stability’ is nothing more than a fig leaf for authoritarian rule.” “Fascism will fall. The Communist Party will fall.”
China Democracy Party Member Guo Chao(Photo by Guan Yongjie)
Epilogue: In the Wind of San Francisco, the Free World Speaks
The rally lasted several hours. Chants filled the air: “Down with the Communist Party!”“Freedom will prevail!” “Oppose tyranny!” “Defend human rights!”
Passing drivers honked in solidarity.Many attendees were newly joined members of the China Democracy Party—ordinary people from mainland China whose faces reflected both anger and a long-awaited sense of relief. At last, they could speak freely, chant freely, and express their convictions without fear.
This year’s Anti-Communism Week carries special significance.It is not only America’s formal acknowledgment of historical suffering but also a renewed declaration from the free world against the shadow of totalitarianism. San Francisco’s rally was just one voice among many worldwide.But as multiple speakers said: “As long as even one person dares to speak, totalitarianism cannot fully triumph.”
The flame of freedom never dies, no matter how deep the night.
Speakers at the event included:Zhao Changqing, Hu Pizheng, Miao Qing, Cui Yunxing, Liu Jingtao, Wei Renxi, Liu Chenchen, Gao Yingfen, Xing Gui, Guo Zhijun, Lü Xiaojing, Zhuang Fan, Hui Rutao, Li Kai, Li Shuqing, Guan Yongjie, Guo Chao, Yu Weidong, Chen Senfeng, Chen Huailuo, Zhou Zhigang, Wang Yongsheng, Li Jun, Lu Zhanqiang, Ma Li, Wang Yongsheng, He Cong (in no particular order).
This article examines the mutually shaping relationship between political institutions and the people. It argues that the CCP uses brainwashing and reverse selection to cultivate a submissive populace, creating a vicious cycle of authoritarianism. Only by rebuilding democratic institutions and renewing rational thinking among the people can China escape the “historical cycle” and move toward genuine freedom and prosperity.
Are institutions chosen by the people, or are the people shaped by institutions? This is a classic question. The 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics asserts that a nation’s prosperity depends primarily on its social institutions. My view is that institutions and the people are like the two legs of a nation—interdependent and mutually reinforcing. A country can prosper sustainably only when both legs are healthy.
Let us first look at the current situation in China, which many pessimists describe as a “barren land” for civic development.
For over two millennia, the greatest tragedy on this land has been reverse selection. Individuals with soul, integrity, and courage have been repeatedly eliminated through waves of political purges and killings. The Chinese people have long been stripped of their backbone and bravery. Those who survived are often the timid, the cunning, and the mediocre. Today’s Chinese are largely the descendants of the timid and compliant—fertile soil for the growth of red totalitarianism.
Over the past century, the CCP has absorbed and refined the propaganda and brainwashing techniques of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, using the machinery of the state to completely destroy Chinese modes of thinking and systems of values. Behaviors once considered shameful—deception and manipulation—have, under high-pressure propaganda, been redefined as “survival skills.” Criticizing the government, originally a civic duty, is now framed as “attacking the nation.”
Although the CCP and the people share no common interests, indoctrinated citizens are convinced that they and the CCP face the same enemies—domestic entrepreneurs and the anti-China force of the West.
Writer Ji Xianlin once said: “Under China’s public-ownership system, every workplace is ruled by petty men. The upright is always the minority and hold no power. The masses are blind and opportunistic; most of the time, they do not stand with the upright. Bad people will not become good, for they do not think they are bad.” Though tinted with the emotions of his era, his words reflect a common observation among many intellectuals. Artist Chen Danqing put it more bluntly:
“In China, if you have no background and still choose to be a good person, you will certainly fall to the bottom of society—even if you are talented, even if you possess real insight. Society’s sieve filters you out. The more honest, upright, and kind you are, the more likely you are to be eliminated.” In a system where morality is deliberately inverted, goodness yields no institutional reward. The CCP ensures moral degradation and universal confusion: calling a deer a horse, punishing the righteous, rewarding the deceitful, and promoting the utterly shameless. Why?
1. To atomize the lower classes, preventing solidarity and making authoritarian control easier.
2. To tarnish the global image of the Chinese people, so foreigners conclude China is not worth helping—thus reducing pressure on CCP dictatorship.
3. To reinforce the narrative that “Chinese people are not suited for democracy,” so that only a centralized authoritarian party can maintain “stability and prosperity.”
This narrative collapses under the slightest scrutiny. If Chinese people supposedly lack the “quality” for Western democracy, how can they implement the CCP’s so-called “more advanced socialist system”? Does socialism require lower civic quality? Or is socialism simply inferior to democratic capitalism?
Broadly, national systems fall into two categories:
① Authoritarian tyranny
② Democratic rule of law
Likewise, people can be divided into two types:
A. Submissive, collectivist, and easily manipulated
B. Rational, independent thinkers who take personal responsibility
This yields four combinations:
1. Authoritarian + Submissive (① + A)
Authoritarian rule produces an even more submissive populace, and submissive people reinforce authoritarianism. Mainland China represents this model. Such a state appears stable, but is fundamentally unhealthy and unsustainable. It will eventually collapse from within or be transformed by external forces.
2. Authoritarian + Rational (① + B)
Either rational citizens overthrow the regime, or the regime forcibly reshapes citizens into obedience. This combination cannot last long; it quickly shifts to either the first or the fourth scenario.
3. Democracy + Submissive (② + A)
Either democratic institutions enlighten the people, or the submissive people dismantle democracy. Again, this combination is unstable.
4. Democracy + Rational (② + B)
This is the truly stable combination. Even when serious mistakes occur, the system can self-correct and return to the right path. All other combinations eventually evolve into this one, because the tide of history flows irreversibly toward rationality and democracy.
To overthrow the CCP and rebuild a republic is the ideal of all democracy activists. When that day comes, the greatest danger will be democratic backsliding or authoritarian relapse. Therefore, rebuilding democratic institutions must go hand in hand with strengthening the logical and reflective capacity of the people—restoring rationality and cultivating independent thought. Only rational citizens can safeguard democratic institutions; only democratic institutions can protect the equal rights and dignity of the people. Only then can China escape the endless cycle of authoritarian relapse and rise as a truly civilized and prosperous nation.
One must remain sober: the mental frameworks shaped by long-term authoritarian rule cannot disappear in a single generation. To fully transition, at least two generations of cultural renewal will be required. Just as Moses led the Israelites through the wilderness for forty years—allowing the generation enslaved in Egypt to pass away before entering the Promised Land—China will need time to let old mindsets fade. May the coming era treat its people kindly.They are our brothers and sisters—victims of CCP rule, not its accomplices.
Jasmine Protest Against CCP Tyranny — Event Notice
(The 765th Weekly Protest by the China Democratic Party)
Date: Saturday, November 22，2025
Time: 9:00 PM
Location: Times Square, New York City
Organized by: China Democratic Party National Committee – New York
Event Commander: Cui Yong
Event Host: Liu Chuan
Declaration Reader: Hou Gaiying
The China Democratic Party will hold its 765th Jasmine Protest Against CCP Tyranny. We continue to speak out through peaceful, public, and nonviolent action, calling on the international community to pay close attention to the ongoing authoritarian oppression, human rights violations, and suppression of free expression in China.
This event will highlight solidarity with:
•Dissidents and human rights lawyers who have been imprisoned, disappeared, or placed under house arrest by the CCP
•Persecuted religious groups, prisoners of conscience, and political refugees
•Ordinary Chinese citizens who suffer repression simply for pursuing freedom and defending human rights
At the event, CDP members will deliver an Anti-Tyranny Declaration, share testimonies, and conduct the symbolic “Jasmine Candlelight Action” in honor of all those who have sacrificed for freedom in China.
We welcome everyone who cares about democracy, human rights, and freedom to join us.
Who Are the Real Anti-China Forces Splitting the Country?
Author: Zhao Jie Editor: Zhong Ran Executive Editor: Liu Fang Proofreader: Feng Reng Translator: Lv Feng
Abstract:The Fujian police’s decision to place Wen Ziyu and Chen Baiyuan on a wanted list has sparked controversy. In a democratic society, political speech must be protected; it is authoritarian systems—not differing opinions—that truly create division. This is a common conviction shared by all who pursue democracy and freedom.
On November 12, 2025, Xinhua News Agency reported that the Quanzhou Public Security Bureau in Fujian Province issued a reward notice seeking so-called “criminal leads” on Taiwanese internet personalities Wen Ziyu (“Bajiong”) and Chen Baiyuan (“Minnan Wolf”). The announcement accused them of “inciting secession,” “attacking mainland policies,” and “colluding with the United States to seek independence.”
Yet who, exactly, is creating division? And who is truly undermining the shared future of the Chinese people?
The notice accuses Wen Ziyu and Chen Baiyuan of making statements such as “resist China, protect Taiwan” and “rely on the United States to seek independence.” Yet in any democratic society, political positions fall squarely within the realm of free speech. “Taiwan’s future shall be decided by the Taiwanese people” is not only a political stance but a fundamental principle of modern democracy.
When the expression of differing political views is labeled “separatism” or “criminal behavior,” the root of the problem becomes unmistakably clear: it is a regime deeply insecure about politics, one that equates itself with the nation. Anyone who does not endorse the regime is treated as a threat to the country. History repeatedly shows that what truly fractures a nation is never the plurality of opinions, but the dictator’s prohibition of dissent.
During my volunteer shift at the June Fourth Memorial Museum in Los Angeles, I once received Mr. Wen Ziyu. Later, I met and spoke with him again at the Liberty Sculpture Park.
I told him: “I am a supporter of the Republic of China, but I am not opposed to Taiwan independence. The Republic of China belongs not only to Taiwan, but also to those of us left behind on the mainland who long for democracy.” He expressed agreement.
His visit to the United States was at the invitation of the June Fourth Memorial Museum, and he participated in the joint commemoration of the 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre, co-hosted by the China Democracy Party and Liberty Sculpture Park. He hopes to unite all forces—both inside and outside China—that oppose dictatorship. The Chinese Communist Party is not the sole enemy of the Taiwanese; it is the common enemy of all Chinese people who strive for democracy and freedom.
I also showed him photos and videos of the rallies I had organized in front of the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles—events held to support Taiwan, to declare recognition only of the Republic of China, and to oppose the Chinese Communist Party. I have always believed that Taiwan’s future must be determined by the Taiwanese people themselves—this is the choice that best avoids conflict, most respects popular will, and most aligns with the values of modern civilization.
I also carry a personal hope: that one day, the national flag of the Republic of China may once again fly over the skies of mainland China. This is not “division,” but a vision for a truly democratic China.
From Mao Zedong to Xi Jinping, history and reality have demonstrated time and again that dictatorship inevitably produces dictators, and dictators rely on manufacturing hostility to sustain their rule. When differing opinions are treated as threats, when a regime is equated with the nation, the fractures within society do not emerge naturally—they are deliberately engineered.
What truly tears China apart has never been the differences of opinion among the people, but the authoritarian system itself. What truly undermines the shared future of the Chinese nation and fosters hostility among its citizens is not Taiwan, nor those abroad who pursue freedom, but the dictators who conflate the state with the regime and cling to power by suppressing liberty.
