The DPP must stay true to its ideals

The construction of the power plant is not simply about differences between the DPP and the administration. Nor is it just about implementing the DPP platform. The DPP must move in the right direction and hold the right values. The party would be evading its responsibilities and neglecting its duties if it blindly followed the policies of the new government. Without meaning to, the DPP would be doing the Chen administration a disservice.

In fact, discrepancies also exist between the DPP platform and Chen's administration in cross-strait issues as well. As the ROC's 10th president, Chen seems to have little choice but to maintain the current political system to ensure stability in the face of both pressure from Beijing and the domestic situation. But now he has gone too far -- bowing to the statue of Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and shouting slogans like "Long live the Republic of China." If the DPP chimes in with Chen's moves it will further skew the balance in Taiwan.

It may be inappropriate to differentiate the roles of the president and the vice president into those of good cop/bad cop (白臉、黑臉). But it is necessary for a ruling political party to differentiate itself from the government when the administration's policies betray the party's ideals.

In short, it is more suitable for the government, rather than for a political party, to minister to the needs of "all the people." The DPP neither has to, nor is likely to assume the role of "a party for all the people." The question is: what kind of people does the DPP want to represent?

In the past when the country was riddled with crises, the DPP grew rapidly in strength by vowing to "(seek) democracy and self-determination, and save Taiwan (民主,自決,救台灣)." It was none other than Hsieh who formulated the catchy slogan. But as we run into more crises, instead of insisting on their principles, the DPP members are starting to disown their ideals and back trendy policies in the hope of pandering to others. As a friend of Hsieh, I sincerely hope he will stay true to the DPP's -- and his -- ideals.

Chen Yi-sheng is an associate research fellow at the Institute of Modern History of the Academia Sinica.