If relations are really warming up, why does China still have over 1800 ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan? Military spending in China hit an all time high this past year, and will most definitely increase again next year. China regularly holds military exercises that simulate an attack on the sovereign island of Taiwan.

Are these actions indicative of countries with warming ties and good relations? Why does China continue to adamantly deny Taiwan access into any international organizations, most notably the United Nations and the World Health Organization?

"Chinese Taipei"

During the Olympics, Taiwan was once again referred to by the ridiculous moniker, "Chinese Taipei," a slap in the face to all Taiwanese. Taiwan was also prohibited from flying its own national flag and from playing its own national anthem at the games. Are these the signs of improving relations?

In August, Ma Ying-jeou, on his way to and back from a diplomatic trip to South America, made stopovers in the U.S., as well as in Mexico, where he took the liberty of being interviewed by various foreign news agencies.

Ma bragged that by establishing direct cross-straight flights between Taiwan and China, the influx of 3000 Chinese tourists a day would immediately rescue Taiwan's faltering economy, as well as ease tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

Unfulfilled promises

Well, it's been over 100 days since Ma Ying-jeou took office. Where are all the Chinese tourists? The answer is they're still in China. The real numbers tell a rather different story. Since direct flights started in mid-July, the average number of Chinese tourists a week has hovered around a paltry, penny pinching 300 Chinese. That's about 43 tourists a day on average, which are only 2,957 tourists short of Ma Ying-jeou's campaign promise of 3000 a day.

The problem with Ma Ying-jeou and KMT is that their idea of improved and warming relations with China is nothing more than complete capitulation of all the democratic progress and development that Taiwan has fought for over the past eight years.

Of all the countries in the world, only one is openly hostile towards Taiwan. Only one country in the world has given itself the right to attack Taiwan by creating an insane and laughable law (the Anti-Secession Law) passed by nothing more than a mere rubberstamp congress. Only one country on this planet actively brainwashes its own citizens (about 1.2 billion) into thinking that the completely independent and democratic island of Taiwan is a part of their completely communist country.

The future of Taiwan

To think that the key to rescuing Taiwan's economy and international standing lies in closer ties, and eventually possible reunification, with this country is not only ludicrous, but delusional.

The future of Taiwan must be decided by the 23,000,000 Taiwanese citizens of this island and decided by those people alone.

Taiwan has developed into one of the most democratic countries in Asia where the freedom of speech and human rights are sacrosanct. What does Taiwan have to gain from aligning itself with the most corrupt and most brainwashed country on the planet?

Freedom of the press

Earlier this year, a Freedom House report ranked Taiwan 32nd out of 195 countries in terms of overall freedom of the press. China fell far behind Taiwan, ranked 181st.

During the 2008 Olympics the entire world witnessed what happens in China when ordinary citizens exercise their right to protest and to speak freely; they get sent to jail. Incarceration was followed by immediate deportation for foreigners, and one can only imagine what happened to the Chinese who were fearless enough to take a stand for human rights.

For Ma Ying-jeou to think that China is the solution to all of Taiwan's problems, when it's actually the cause of all our problems, shows his complete lack of understanding about Taiwan, the country where he is now sadly president.

What sane Taiwanese individual would choose to give up all of their rights as a free democratic citizen to become part of a communist country where citizens are fed propaganda and lies twenty-four hours a day? If Ma Ying-jeou and the KMT are so enthusiastic about returning to China, I suggest they take the initiative and go first before they run this country into the ground.

Eric Chang is an English teacher who has returned to Taiwan after living in America. He currently resides in Tainan.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of the newspaper.