Sun, Jan 21, 2024 page8

• Local KMT factions are not pro-Taiwan

  • By Chu Meng-hsiang 朱孟庠
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  Among the 52 legislative seats secured by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), local factions have obtained 31 and the “blue fighters” 21. This helps us see through the nature of the KMT: a party dominated by local political families and pro-China “blue fighters.”

  The “blue fighter” faction is spearheaded by Broadcasting Corp of China chairman Jaw Shaw-kong (趙少康). Other “blue fighters” include Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇), who often made disparaging comments about the government on pro-China media, and Ma Wen-chun (馬文君), who allegedly passed classified material on Taiwan’s indigenous submarine program to South Korea.

  Although they acted disloyally to Taiwan, the KMT fully supported Wang and Ma. Younger party members also demanded that KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) step down and be replaced by Jaw, which would doubtlessly increase the power of the “blue fighters” faction.

  More terrifying is that Jaw and former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) support a “one China” policy and are against Taiwanese independence. They discount Taiwan’s independence and devalue its autonomy.

  Before the KMT started localizing itself, it could not mention ruling party alternations or power balances. Some Taiwanese have been deceived by such slogans. Before the KMT won its 52 legislative seats and became the largest party in the Legislative Yuan, Ma said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) should be trusted, China intervened in the elections and KMT Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia (夏立言) kowtowed to China. The KMT’s victory is a great challenge to local political parties. Influenced by Chinese video-sharing platforms, Taiwan’s democratic consciousness is under threat.

  As long as the KMT denies Taiwan’s sovereignty, it is a foreign political party that does not belong here. Taiwanese should not accept the KMT as a Taiwanese political party. As long as it is pro-China, Taiwanese should stay vigilant. Unless the KMT realizes it has made a mistake and renames itself to something like the “Taiwanese Nationalist Party,” it would remain a foreign political party. The KMT must affirm a “Taiwan first” principle before it is recognized as a Taiwanese political party.

  Regrettably, millions of pan-blue camp supporters and KMT members — including former legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), on whom former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) had placed high hopes — have failed to change the KMT. In this pro-China political party, local faction members are obsessed with their own vested interests. They are unaware of their Taiwanese identity and incapable of achieving anything meaningful for Taiwan.

  For half a century, under the rule of former presidents Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國), Taiwanese were forcibly educated to identify as “true Chinese.” The KMT has laid a solid foundation for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It is no wonder why former CCP chairman Mao Zedong (毛澤東) said he would not worry about Taiwanese independence, as Chiang Kai-shek would not allow it to happen. KMT disciples and numerous pan-blue camp supporters would continue fighting Taiwanese independence. The ideation of a “great China” is not anti-CCP at all.

  The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) did not win a legislative majority. While seeking collaboration with the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), the DPP should not be impeded by the white camp. Instead, it should focus on proposing good agendas and catering to the public’s needs. In doing so, the DPP would gain public support and the TPP would not dare to go against the public will.

  Chu Meng-hsiang is former deputy secretary-general of the Lee Teng-hui Foundation.

  Translated by Emma Liu
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