Following the orders of incumbent chairman Lien Chan (連戰), Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) vice chairmen Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) yesterday reported on their plans for the party and thoughts on the KMT's values as part of their campaigns for the party chairmanship.
While Lien was positive about the candidates' reports, the KMT's Central Standing Committee seemed less than thrilled, with many attacking Ma and calling on Lien to consider running.
Last Wednesday, Lien called for both chairmanship hopefuls to report to the Central Standing Committee about their views on the party's future and direction. Wang and Ma spoke for 40 minutes each about their views on the KMT's core values, their plans for the year-end mayoral and county commissioner elections, the party's beleaguered financial situation and on the cross-strait situation.
In his report, Ma gave a general speech about the importance of the KMT in Taiwan. Wang's report was more concrete, with Wang specifically detailing his strategy for helping the KMT win the year-end elections and emphasizing that under his command, the KMT's focus would be to counter the pan-green camp through the legislature.
In comparison, Ma paid more attention to the party's financial situation, party workers' concerns and party reforms in his report, emphasizing that the KMT is more than just an election machine.
Wang and Ma's reports reflected their campaign promises to uphold the KMT's values, guarantee party employee's rights, solve the party's financial situation and facilitate democratization of the party.
In a point of difference between the two however, Wang said that "in the interest of pursuing justice, at critical moments, [the KMT] must take to the streets when it should ... since extreme situations call for extreme measures."
In contrast, Ma said that "taking to the streets is nothing remarkable; most important is to achieve your actual goal and appeal to the people."
The comment highlighted a point of contention among blue camp supporters about Ma's suitability for the KMT's top post. Several pan-blue figures, including Wang and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (
Given that Lien's recent trips to China have increased his popularity and boosted calls for his continued stay in the KMT's top post, the two vice chairmen's views on the cross-strait situation were a focus of yesterday's meeting.
Despite the heightened attention however, the vice chairmen's views on the issue were similar, with Ma and Wang expressing their support for the results of Lien's trip. In their reports yesterday, both Wang and Ma reiterated their support for the so-called "1992 Consensus," the status quo and the Republic of China as an institution.
Going a step further, Wang called for the establishment of two different platforms for party-member dialogue and domestic party-to-party dialogue, in addition to the platform being created between the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party as a result of Lien's trip to China.
The reports were made in response to Lien's request last week that the vice chairmen to describe in detail their visions for the party. Speaking last Wednesday, Lien said that he had "no wish" to enter the chairmanship election, but that given the lack of issues in the two chairmen's campaigns for the July 16 election, it was necessary that Wang and Ma sit down and discuss their plans.
While Lien originally said that if the reports were unsatisfactory, there would be more negotiations, Lien yesterday seemed pleased with the results of his request.
"The KMT is trying a new thing, under the atmosphere of unity and cooperation. Both candidates have fully expressed their ambitions and ideals, and have also shown [us] their sincerity along with the creativity of their reports," Lien said.
"The chairmanship election has already officially begun. I expect that both candidates will participate in `a competition of gentlemen,'" he added.
Less satisfied at the meeting however, were the KMT's Central Standing Committee members, with a number of members continuing to express their hope that Lien would enter the race.
Others at the KMT also expressed their hopes for Lien's continued stay in the party's top post, with songs and tearful cries.
During yesterday's meeting, a small throng of Lien supporters congregated in the lobby of the KMT headquarters, singing songs and calling on Lien to not "abandon us" before being dispersed by the KMT's building guards.
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