Taiwan matters for a number of reasons. A beacon of democracy in an autocratic neighborhood is one of them.
Yes:
Taiwan could claim to be a model for the world in other respects. On 31 January, Derek Mitchell, the president of the National Democratic Institute and a former US ambassador to Myanmar, told me: “Taiwan’s democratic processes, vibrant civil society and commitment to human rights and social justice [it was the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, in May 2019] make it a beacon in Asia.” He added: “Taiwan’s success as a democracy also represents a fundamental challenge to the Chinese Communist Party, as it puts a lie to the CCP’s assertion that democracy is a Western system incompatible with Chinese culture.”
Which is why I think Taiwan should host a League of Democracies to promote and support rule of law democracy at the local and national levels:
Long ago I concluded that a League of Democracies as an alternative to the autocrat-ridden United Nations is not the solution to our problems in that body.
But why couldn't Taiwan host a League of Democracies on Taiwan to discuss the mechanics of democracy promotion and democracy practice?
It could be composed of nations, provinces/states, and cities that want to discuss these issues.
As a body discussing the concept of democracy in both state and sub-state actors, it would not run afoul of Chinese red lines about independence. China has offered one state with two systems to Hong Kong--although it really doesn't--and to Taiwan to ease resistance to Peking absorbing Taiwan. How could China oppose democracy as a concept apart from independence when it formally agrees?
Yet it would be a powerful symbol of resistance to Chinese efforts to deny Taiwan democracy.
Taiwan would invite specific qualifying countries, states or provinces, and cities--including Hong Kong--to join the body. Taiwan could invite non-governmental bodies that address democracy and rule of law, including the Carter Center. Perhaps those NGOs could help define a rule of law democracy for membership qualification. Neither China, Iran, nor Chicago, for example, would qualify if the definitions are real.
The president of Taiwan did seem open to that kind of soft power.
