全文／投書華郵　林飛帆：現在正是自由世界保衛台灣的時刻

政治中心／綜合報導

▲民進黨副秘書長林飛帆。(圖／民進黨提供)

美國眾議院議長裴洛西訪台後，中國先向台灣周邊海域試射飛彈，又連日進行海空軍演，甚至發動經濟、外交脅迫制裁，讓台海緊張情勢急遽升溫，對此，民進黨副秘書長林飛帆以「現在正是自由世界保衛台灣的時刻」向美國華盛頓郵報投書，表示「台灣當然不希望面對戰爭，但是當面對威脅，我們也不會低頭退縮。」認為在中國威脅下，台灣民主更加被證明是強韌的。因此，要呼籲國際社會，應該把台灣視為值得信賴的盟友，和值得國際社會共同保衛的國家。

林飛帆投書華郵，中英全文如下：

【中文譯版】

現在正是自由世界保衛台灣的時刻

中國對於美國眾議院裴洛西議長歷史性訪台的好戰反應，證明了國際社會比以往更有必要對台灣展現更強韌的支持。

裴洛西議長的訪台行程後，中國不旦透過前所未見，而且極度不成比例的軍事演習、經濟脅迫，和外交制裁，讓台海的緊張局勢快速升溫。這個情勢加劇的規模，讓一些分析家認為，這是自1996年的台海飛彈危機以來，台灣海峽最危險和最緊張的局勢發展。

但對台灣而言，這幾十年來，中國的威脅一直是我們日常生活的一部分。然而，此刻，我們與世界面臨到更核心的生存問題，即是：這個世界真的能承受失去台灣，這個自由民主世界秩序裡不可或缺的成員嗎？

在中共領導人習近平於2012年上台後，中國對外發展的戰略，從鄧小平時期的「韜光養晦」走向現在的「中華民族偉大復興」。 中國透過「一帶一路」和債務外交等對外政策，正在擴大中國對發展中國家的影響力；與此同時，中共也展開對內鎮壓，壓迫包括新疆和香港在內的維權和民主運動。

在習近平的專制領導之下，中國的國家戰略出現巨大且充滿野心的轉變，而他的對台政策也不例外。中國不斷努力遏止台灣作為一個主權國家的發展，嘗試破壞我們的民主制度，倉狂的推促統一，並設定推動統一進程的內部時間表；這種侵略野心在習近平於2019年正式提出「一國兩制台灣方案」作為併吞台灣後的治理模式時，變得更為鮮明。

這種明顯的戰略轉變，正是美國及其盟國必須開始重新考慮他們對中國的態度的原因。對台灣而言，中國的侵略的不再只是「是否會發生」的情境假設，更重要的問題是，在我們捍衛自身的民主生活方式的同時，國際社會是否會與台灣站在一起、對抗威權的擴張。

中國的軍事能力及其潛在的擴張時間表，尤其是在俄羅斯入侵烏克蘭之後，毫無疑問地是對當前世界秩序的重大威脅。但是，台灣和國際社會仍然可以一起做很多的努力，包含透過國際社會的齊心支持，讓北京意識到他們選擇使用武力對付台灣，將付出沉重的代價。

世界普遍意識到台灣在地緣政治中的關鍵地位，特別是台灣在半導體供應鏈中的重要性，以及其在第一島鏈的戰略位置。但我認為更重要的是，台灣是民主成就的燈塔，以及區域和平的支柱。

作為亞洲的新興民主國家之一，台灣是少數能夠走向民主轉型，且未經歷軍事政變或革命的國家。台灣也是亞洲第一個通過婚姻平權的國家；更是少數擁有世界上最完善的全民健保的國家；同時，儘管被排除於國際組織之外，我們也是少數致力於實踐全球氣候治理的國家。

台灣當然不希望面對戰爭，但是當面對威脅，我們也不會低頭退縮。近期的民意調查顯示，超過70%，來自不同的社會、經濟背景的台灣人民都願意在台灣遭受攻擊時挺身保衛台灣。我們認為，來自國際社會的外交支持，可以強化我們自我防衛的決心，讓台灣人民更加確信，我們不會被國際體系孤立，而我們捍衛民主的選擇，也不會徒勞無功。

這也是為甚麼，台灣人在面對中國嚴峻的威脅之下，仍然熱烈歡迎裴洛西議長的來訪。正如同裴洛西議長訪台時所說的，這個世界正面臨著威權專制與自由民主之間的抉擇。在這個重要的歷史時刻，美國、台灣和我們所有的民主盟友，絕不能向威權妥協。

我出生於解嚴之後的台灣。成長在民主化過程中的台灣年輕人，非常幸運的，沒有經歷到我們父母輩所生活的威權統治。言論自由、民主自決，這些核心價值建構了我們這個世代的集體認同。八年前，當中國試圖以經濟協議將台灣吸納入它們的控制之內時，我們這個世代的年輕人組織了太陽花運動。這個運動改變了國家的方向，讓心繫台灣民主的青年世代的聲音得以超越受中國威權支持的兩岸資本與買辦的利益。

正是在這樣習以為常的中國威脅之下，台灣的民主更加被證明是強韌的。因此，我們要呼籲國際社會，應該把台灣視為值得信賴的盟友，和值得國際社會共同保衛的國家。

【英文原文】

It’s time the free world commits to the defense of Taiwan

Lin Fei-fan is the deputy secretary-general of the governing Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan.

China’s bellicose response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s historic visit to Taiwan proves the paramount necessity for the international community to be vocal about its support for Taiwan—now more than ever.

Since Pelosi’s visit, China has escalated tensions through unprecedented and disproportionate military actions, economic coercion and diplomatic sanctions. The shift is severe enough that some analysts have called it the most dangerous development in the Taiwan Strait since the 1996 Missile Crisis.

In Taiwan, threats from China have been a part of daily life for decades. But at this moment, we face a deeper, existential question: can the world really afford to lose Taiwan, an integral member of the world’s liberal democratic order?

After Xi Jinping took power in 2012, China made a major national shift from Deng Xiaoping’s “hide your strength, bide your time” approach to a new strategy that actively and aggressively pursues the "rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” International policies like the Belt and Road Initiative and debt diplomacy have extended China’s influence in developing countries. Internally, the CCP has cracked down on domestic rights protection and democratic movements, including those in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

Cross-Strait policy under Xi is no exception to the emboldened changes in China’s national strategy. China has worked incessantly to curb Taiwan’s development as a sovereign nation and undermine its democratic system, relentlessly promoting unification and beginning to set an internal timetable for doing so— a move made obvious in 2019 when Xi officially proposed the “One Country, Two Systems” model for Taiwan following its annexation.

This clear strategic shift is exactly why the United States and its allies must begin to rethink their approach toward China. For Taiwan, the eventuality of Chinese aggression is no longer a “what-if” scenario — the more important question is whether or not the international community will stand with Taiwan as we fight to defend our way of life.

China’s military capacity and its potential expansionist timeline are indubitably major threats to the world order, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But there is a lot that Taiwan and the global community can do to harness international support and make Beijing aware of the heavy price they would pay in choosing to take Taiwan by force.

The world is generally aware of Taiwan’s critical geopolitical role due to its prevalence in the semiconductor supply chain and its strategic location. But even more importantly, Taiwan is a beacon of democratic achievement and a regional pillar of peace.

As one of the few emerging democracies in Asia, Taiwan’s recent history is a testament to the social capacity for the region to engage in democratic transitions without military coups or violent revolutions. Taiwan is the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, boasts one of the most comprehensive universal health care systems in the world, and is among one of the few nations to commit to global climate governance despite being excluded from international organizations that are designed to foster global cooperation on these key socio-political issues.

Taiwan is by no means enthusiastic about the prospect of a war, but we’re also unwilling to back down in the face of threats. Recent polls show that over 70% of Taiwanese people — across varying socioeconomic backgrounds — are willing to defend Taiwan in the event of an attack. Diplomatic support bolsters our existing commitment to national defense by giving our people a greater assurance that they are not isolated from the international system, and their choice to defend democracy will not be in vain.

This is why the Taiwanese people welcomed Pelosi’s choice to visit Taiwan. As Speaker Pelosi expressed, the world is facing a choice between autocracy and democracy. The United States, Taiwan and our democratic allies must not give in.

I was born in Taiwan after martial law had already ended; I’m part of a generation lucky to have grown up in a society undergoing democratic transformation, rather than the authoritarian rule experienced by our parents. My generation is bound together by a collective identity forged on the basis of freedom of expression and the ability to shape our own future. When China tried to intimidate Taiwan with a restrictive economic deal eight years ago, we organized the Sunflower Movement— and changed the trajectory of our nation. We made Taiwan prioritize the voices of young people concerned about the future of democracy rather than the might of corporations backed by autocratic powers.

Taiwan has a demonstrated and tenacious democratic spirit that is magnified in the face of threats to our way of life. We call on the international community to see us as a trusted ally and country worthy of the world’s collective defense.