President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) remark last week that "not even former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) would be able to change the national title at present" has sparked harsh criticism from the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) and pro-independence groups. Several of Chen's advisors submitted their resignations to protest Chen's endorsement of a 10-point consensus with People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) last month.
Chen's confession that during the remainder of his second presidential term, political reality has rejected the idea of pushing forward the movement of changing the national title and enacting a new constitution. But his supporter base felt betrayed because it contradicted what Chen has pledged before.
To leave a legacy as a capable leader, Chen has no choice but to redefine his role, identify his goals, and implement them step by step.
Domestically, Chen must strike a balance between diverse social forces and forge a unified nation. China's growing influence and the long biased image of Taiwan as a "troublemaker" in the Strait could enable Chen to re-establish his role as a defender of regional peace and stability.
The Chen administration's continued peace gestures to China with regard to implementing the direct Lunar New Year charter flights for China-based Taiwanese businesspeople was a manifestation of breaking the ice in the cross-strait standoff.
Under such circumstances, Chen must react to the criticism made by pro-independence fundamentalists that his rapprochement with the opposition and Beijing sells out the interests of the Taiwanese people.
While admitting the moves toward name rectification and a new constitution are not achievable in the near future, Chen's aim now is to bring the nation back to the real world and concentrate on the urgent issues.
To be frank, the whole fiasco was ignited by sentimental rhetoric, rather than by the accusation that Chen has sold out the pro-independence camp by siding with his long-time opponent Soong. Chen would have minimized the backlash from independence fundamentalists if he were more persuasive. However, fantasy is always what we want but reality is essentially what we need.
Since time is not on Chen's side, he must incorporate stronger leadership, determined action, and the art of political bargaining to his governance. Amid tremendous pressures at home and abroad, Chen must be conciliatory without appearing weak; strong without appearing hostile.
In terms of bridging partisan differences and pursuing reconciliation with the opposition, Chen should use a strategy of persuasion and bargaining to search for common ground on key policies. Without making unreasonable concessions, Chen needs to continue to play a "father figure" role and help the public to learn that the country is beset with difficulties.
Therefore, the extent to which political parties could put aside differences and work together to create a better life for Taiwan's 23 million people will lead the country toward the right track.
Chen should keep in mind that maintaining majority support does not mean abandoning one's principles. It means caring enough about how you explain yourself to get the nation behind you. Since Chen took bold steps but didn't explain them properly, he is failing at the art of persuasion.
Chen should take advantage of the nation's desire for an end to partisan wrangling and cross-strait peace and invite leaders from different political parties and social groups to work together. Only by molding a unified Taiwan can we create a strong and democratic country.
Liu Kuan-teh is a Taipei-based political commentator.
Concerns that the US might abandon Taiwan are often overstated. While US President Donald Trump’s handling of Ukraine raised unease in Taiwan, it is crucial to recognize that Taiwan is not Ukraine. Under Trump, the US views Ukraine largely as a European problem, whereas the Indo-Pacific region remains its primary geopolitical focus. Taipei holds immense strategic value for Washington and is unlikely to be treated as a bargaining chip in US-China relations. Trump’s vision of “making America great again” would be directly undermined by any move to abandon Taiwan. Despite the rhetoric of “America First,” the Trump administration understands the necessity of
US President Donald Trump’s challenge to domestic American economic-political priorities, and abroad to the global balance of power, are not a threat to the security of Taiwan. Trump’s success can go far to contain the real threat — the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) surge to hegemony — while offering expanded defensive opportunities for Taiwan. In a stunning affirmation of the CCP policy of “forceful reunification,” an obscene euphemism for the invasion of Taiwan and the destruction of its democracy, on March 13, 2024, the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) used Chinese social media platforms to show the first-time linkage of three new
If you had a vision of the future where China did not dominate the global car industry, you can kiss those dreams goodbye. That is because US President Donald Trump’s promised 25 percent tariff on auto imports takes an ax to the only bits of the emerging electric vehicle (EV) supply chain that are not already dominated by Beijing. The biggest losers when the levies take effect this week would be Japan and South Korea. They account for one-third of the cars imported into the US, and as much as two-thirds of those imported from outside North America. (Mexico and Canada, while
I have heard people equate the government’s stance on resisting forced unification with China or the conditional reinstatement of the military court system with the rise of the Nazis before World War II. The comparison is absurd. There is no meaningful parallel between the government and Nazi Germany, nor does such a mindset exist within the general public in Taiwan. It is important to remember that the German public bore some responsibility for the horrors of the Holocaust. Post-World War II Germany’s transitional justice efforts were rooted in a national reckoning and introspection. Many Jews were sent to concentration camps not
RSS