The former Chinese movement activist Wang Dan was invited to our school for a speech last Wednesday (December 27) on “How to understand China—and the problems of Chinese democracy”.

Wang Dan indicated that other countries and media understand China from its current high economic growth; they think that Chinese have already forgotten the politic democracy. Actually, to his knowledge, there are already highly educated people who form in groups to uphold justice and people's interests, they have already submitted a written statement in supporting reform movement and plead on people’s behalf to the Chinese government. And this is very different from the 80s’ Anti Movement for reform.

According to Wang Dan, the high economy development brings up a great batch of middle classes in China. However, the worry of China's political reformation comes from these new rich people. Wang Dan said, “the middle class of China is a new class resulted from the partition of national-run assets by profit-taking groups, but not produced under the fair market economy. Therefore, these people don’t want to have political reformation. The great need of reformation is actually from the people with lower social status.” He also states that the possibility of turmoil in China once the gap between rich and poor is expanded because of the constantly overheated development of economy.

About the politics of Taiwan, Wang Dan held an optimistic perspective that “Taiwanese people elected president only for few years, and it is at the stage of learning which is happening in every democratic country.” He advised that political parties in Taiwan always put people’s suggestions and needs to the priority; besides, reducing the fierce fight between political parties, the people should also get rid off their preference onto the “blue and green” parties.

In addition, Wang Dan thought that university students of Taiwan have too much gentle individual character, ' young people should be aggressive, and they could be more competitive under the trend of globalization”. ( ~Johnny Chu )