Martial law familiar indeed
After South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared emergency martial law, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Taipei City Councilor Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) posted on Facebook: “South Korea has declared martial law on the pretext that the opposition is paralyzing the government and the need to eliminate pro-North Korea forces. Sounds familiar.”
It is familiar, indeed. In the past, the KMT implemented martial law in Taiwan for 38 years with the excuse that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the opposition and Taiwanese independence activists wanted to paralyze the government.
Under the world’s second-longest martial law period, the KMT persecuted and murdered countless civilians and social elites. For decades, it destroyed Taiwan’s social and economic productivity, directly and indirectly harming countless innocent people.
The KMT is the only political party to have ever declared martial law in Taiwan. If Lo even slightly opposes martial law, perhaps he should do so from within. He should take the lead in apologizing to victims’ families and the public on behalf of the KMT for the atrocities it committed.
In the past, the KMT used anti-communism as an excuse to harm innocent civilians. Now, KMT members like Lo shamelessly kiss up to the CCP.
It has welcomed Chinese “united front” propaganda, helped Taiwanese businesses launder Chinese funds for elections and blocked arms purchases and the indigenous submarine program budget, thereby weakening national security, and putting the lives and assets of 23 million Taiwanese at risk.
This legislative term, the KMT and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) proposed an unconstitutional amendment expanding legislative powers — their attempt to achieve a legal, de facto coup. With the amendment blocked by the Constitutional Court, they have shifted their focus to financial manipulation. If the law is revised to reallocate NT$600 billion (US$18.5 billion) from the national budget to that of local governments, it would result in national bankruptcy and corruption at the local level — taxpayer money would flow into the pockets of local political factions and criminal organizations.
Various programs — social welfare, national defense, public security, education, science, sports and even TPass monthly mass public transportation subsidies — would be plundered by the KMT, sacrificing the welfare of ordinary citizens to fatten KMT wallets.
Even with NT$600 billion in tax revenue, the KMT is still not satisfied. It wants to roll back pension reforms to maintain the generous pensions earned by old, retired KMT members — sitting around all day while money flows into their accounts. Meanwhile, they ignore the upcoming bankruptcy of the pension system for the military, public sector and educational personnel — collecting the blood, sweat and tears of ordinary Taiwanese to fill the pockets of party elders.
The KMT’s greed would lead the country to the brink of bankruptcy. They have paralyzed the government and betrayed Taiwan by kissing up to the CCP, politely surrendering to China at every encounter. Yes, the KMT and TPP’s antics do indeed feel quite familiar.
The 23 million Taiwanese can all see it for themselves, so where did Lo get the audacity to make such insinuations?
Lin Yun-sheng
Taipei
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