What is a Chinese Federalist?

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I think now is the time to furnish you with a proper definition of what it means to be a Chinese federalist.

A Chinese federalist is first and foremost a Chinese nationalist and a staunch constitutionalist who advocates for federal republicanism in China. He is fundamentally a pan-blue supporter and concurs with basic doctrines of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. He is a 21th century manifestation of Chinese political aspirants who seek for a new political institution in China and calling for a total reconfiguration of the current political landscape within. He is a self-brandished Chinese neocon. That is both neo-Confucian and neo-conservative, the former of which is an "enlightened Confucian" who embraces both Western libertarian principles as well as autochthonous and orthodox Confucian values; the latter, not merely by chance, do find many analogies with his Western counterpart with respect to world view and political ideals.

A Chinese federalist advocates for federal republicanism for China with elements of both federalism and confederacy, and reckons such political construct to be the most ideal and suitable for a country as large and ethnicities as diverse as China. China Proper is to be organized in federal system, while China Outer, that is Mongolia, Xinjiang, Tibet, pockets of ethnic minorities autonomous regions, Hongkong, Macau, and possibly Taiwan are to be encompassed into China according to confederate principles. The latter three regions, with predominantly Han majority, can be considered to join the federal union fairly easier since historically they were considered to be China Proper, however, this is a relatively minor issue and will not be taken into any urgency or priority.

The priority and urgency thereby lays in the abiding principle of federalists' relentless opposition to Communist dictatorship and one-party authoritarianism. A Chinese federalist initially advocates for the dismantling CCP's overlordship, freedom and liberty to be restored, law and order institutionalized, and proper due process of democratic representation elected directly by the people to be taken place. It is this very subversive nature of Chinese federalist that would undoubtedly today, classifies his stance as revolutionary. And indeed in the contemporary political vocabulary that a Chinese federalist is in essence, a revolutionary, who does find much parallels with the American federalists some 200 years ago. The Americans back then were fighting British tyranny. Chinese federalists today are fighting Communist dictatorship, and calling for a "fourth revolution and the establishment of the fourth republic" in the context of modern history of China since 1911. With respect to this seemingly novel coinage a concise connotation is needed, which runs as the following:

The first revolution is the overthrow of Manchu imperial dynasty in 1911 which marked the beginning of Chinese republicanism. The second is Chiang Kai-shek’s victory of his military Northern Expedition（北伐）in 1928 which overthrown the Beijing government of the First Republic and transferred power to the newly established feeble capital of Nanking. The third is the Maoist military triumph of proletariat dictatorship（无产阶级专政）and the establishment of the People’s Republic in 1949 which still represent the current political entity of China. And the fourth is the upcoming democratic revolution in which Chinese federalists are to play a crucial role. The chronology of the three existed republics established in China runs as follows: The first, 1911-1928 represented by Beijing and Five Color flag; the second, 1928-1949 represented by KMT’s Nanking capital and Blue Sky White Sun and Red Earth flag; and the third and current one from 1949 onwards represented by CCP’s Beijing capital and Five Stars flag. The fourth and ultimate one is the manifestation of a ne plus ultra political aspiration by all Chinese in over a century's struggle for freedom and liberty. The proper name of which is to be known as Federal Republic of China.

With the above chronological rundown, Chinese federalist is calling for the end of CCP’s government, and the restoration of the original 1911’s republic, symbolized by the original flag of republican China – Five Color flag, it is to this end that Chinese federalists shall endeavor to the utmost tenacity. As to the detailed methodology regarding the implementation of such grave cause, Chinese federalist needs to confer and collaborate with all existing fronts, which are to be rallied under the common umbrella of the establishment of a free and democratic Chinese federation.

Finally, there is a clarification necessarily to be made on the nature of a federalist being a nationalist, that he is espousing a brand of nationalism coined by Dr. Sun Yat-sen as “civic nationalism”(公民民族主义), which embodies the first principle of Dr. Sun’s Three People Doctrine (三民主义), and this shall be differentiated from Chinese Han-chauvinism (汉沙文主义) and Han-ethnocentrism（汉本位中心论）. Chinese federalist maintains firmly that being a neo-conservative and a neo-Confucian does not connote to such inference and shall not be confused as such, we also espouses a positive sense of patriotism as a constructive force toward the establishment of a solid democratic republic. Chinese federalist staunchly recognizes the right of the people in their free association with any religious institutions and intellectual schools that one sees fit, and their rights shall not be infringed upon in any ways by the state.

The above expatiations shall offer a concise synopsis on the definition of a Chinese federalist, I humbly submit to your scrutiny, from which any informative and constructive input or criticism are welcomed.

Thank you.

Yours truly,

大楚興
Dachuxing

Further insights into Chinese federalism can be read via my blog:

http://federalistpartyofchina.blogspot.com/

A detailed draft of Federal Constitution has already been made by pioneer Chinese democratic activists more than a decade ago, and can be retrieved via the internet:

http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/7288/fedconn.htm

Additional amendment added by James Dai:

A Federalist believes in nationalism and a drafted Constitution, which provides a civic contract. A Federal Republic is most desirable, and Neo-Confucianism is also compatible. Libertarian principles, especially regarding the realm of economy, are the most appropriate form of of governance.

In addition, a Federalist also believes in a strong federal government, with power over political matters, along with an auxiliary confederation to consider everything else. We borrow from the Federalist Party in the United States some two hundred years ago. We also believe in Legalism, that the rule of law is the ultimate arbiter on the land. Without which, democracy might degrade into mob rule, Communalism into apathy, and Confucianism into a political instrument, but Legalism cannot be challenged, and thus elements of Confucianism, Liberal Principles, and Conservative Principles can be preserved. The might of the Qin empire drew upon the inspiration of law, and the most brilliant scholars flocked to the courts of the formerly barbarian nation. Nevertheless, legalism was unfortunately degenerated into authoritarian rule, and was buried for two thousand years. One day, we will properly institutionalize its doctrines again. That is, PROPER legalism, which is the canonization of the LAW, and could be understood as a constitutionalist, and one is to differentiate proper exercises of legalism from draconian measures of Spartan style , 法治与苛政的区别。