Mon, Apr 25, 2005 page8

• Editorial: What elections in May?

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  The National Assembly elections will take place in less than a month. Campaigning, however, is nonexistent. A recent opinion poll suggest that most voters don't know the election date -- May 14 -- and that half don't know what the elections are for, or what impact they will have. This is largely due to the media's obsession with the China trips by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜).

  There have been some who have been trying to cool Lien and Soong's China fever. Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) said last week that he had been unable to sleep, concerned about the possible damage to the nation. He denounced Lien and Soong's trips, listing "five things that are wrong:" Lien and Soong following the wrong principle, having the wrong status and the timing, format and location of their trips are all wrong. Meanwhile pro-independence groups are planning a protest tomorrow (April 26) at CKS International Airport when Lien departs.

  Opposition between localization and pro-China forces is building up again. Both sides are eloquent. The general public is unable to decide who is right and who is wrong, and neither side is capable of persuading the other. Perhaps the National Assembly elections could be seen as a vote of confidence, with the public deciding if Taiwan should continue to engage with, or distance itself from, China.

  The assembly is being elected to vote on constitutional amendments to halve the number of legislative seats, adopting a single-member district, two-vote system for the legislative elections and abolishing the institution of the National Assembly.

  Although President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has vowed that constitutional amendments during his term will not involve a change of national title, flag or territory, Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) and pro-independence groups have pushed for the writing of a new constitution and changing the national title. If they could garner more support for their stance in the assembly elections, this would clarify the direction of constitutional amendments, national title and China policy.

  If the political parties wish to increase the political significance of the assembly elections by turning them into a vote of confidence, the TSU and the PFP should begin by ending their technical obstruction and speed up the passage of the law governing the National Assembly's exercise of power (國民大會職權行使法). The law would detail how the assembly should carry out its duties. Meanwhile, all the parties should hold televised debates about the national policy issues to give voters a clear choice.

  Lien and Soong's trips to China are certain to be seen by Beijing as a great opportunity to promote its unification agenda and blur national consciousness in Taiwan. This is an important political issue for this country, not a judicial issue. Courts will not be able to determine if Lien and Soong's visits are the right thing to do. Only by bringing their ideas and actions to the public and letting the Taiwanese people as a whole decide if their political judgment and opinions go against the public's wishes will we get a clear answer to that question.

  If the parties want to increase the significance of these neglected assembly elections as well as their own political responsibilities, they could do so by intensifying their campaigning. This would be a great opportunity to educate the public in civic politics, and the best way to resolve the conflict over constitutional amendments and China policies.
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