Resilience building through democracy

In metallurgy, alloys are stronger than pure metals, because adding different-sized atoms to fill into the voids among atoms prevents atomic layers from sliding or breaking. Diversity is strength. However, divergent views might polarize a society to the extent that those would deny a nation the opportunity to continue on its path of prosperity.

The secret of alloys lies in the annealing process of heating and cooling cycles to relax them to the stable atomic structures of minimum energy states.

Primary and general elections may serve as annealing processes in a democratic society by electing candidates with better ideas, greater talents and stronger leadership; by switching from divergent chaos to ordered disciplines; and by forging shared values and common interests into a new culture and even a new identity, leading to greater resilience.

In the 2024 presidential election, opposition parties won a combined majority in the Legislative Yuan. Voters punishing the ruling party is a normal check-and-balance process of alternating stick and carrot cycles, to improve efficiency, cut waste, prosecute corruption and fix unpopular policies. Each election provides people with a chance to steer Taiwan toward a better tomorrow.

However, elections may be compromised by voter intimidation, bribery, disinformation and gerrymandering. External interference will rob a society of healthy development in economy, culture, civility and more. Election flaws directly assault democracy by destroying public trust, weakening institutions and shifting power from the people to self-interested elites.

It is evident that the opposition parties, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party, have thus far have caused the government to idle key projects — defense buildup efforts in particular.

KMT Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling (翁曉玲) even declared herself Chinese, betraying voters who are troubled by the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) aggressive military posture, and has been assaulting the executive branch and the defense budget.

Moreover, KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) frequently denies that Taiwan is a sovereign country, effectively serving as a CCP propaganda agent.

The KMT’s switch to chaos, which undermines Taiwan’s democracy and freedom, will endanger Taiwan’s security. It calls for a strong condemnation and an imminent correction. Voters must cool this overheated cycle by restraining the opposition parties, and demanding a social and political agenda to help secure Taiwanese sovereignty.

While the November local election does not elect legislators, voters need to send an unambiguous message to opposition parties that they disapprove of extremism and traitorous behaviors.

The elections would allow Taiwanese to review and recalibrate their shared destiny. It would serve as testimony that the corrupt CCP and its cronies in Taiwan would not be allowed to steal elections. We will pass the baton to the future generations of politicians so as to continue our journey for peace, prosperity and progress in the years to come.

James J. Y. Hsu is a retired professor of theoretical physics.