The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has never known very much about democracy. Understandably, it struggles to throw off its history of autocratic rule and a philosophy of paternalism. But often a political group must go through a catharsis to initiate change.
The first such jolt involved the severance of former president Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) relationship with the KMT. Though viewed by some as a failed leader of the KMT, Lee's failure was only to uphold the autocratic traditions of the KMT. In the years since, Lee has been making statements in contrast to the views of the KMT, talking more about the Taiwanese people than the shadow of China.
The second jolt will be the realization by the KMT's supporters as well as its leaders that they lost the election, and that it is time for a change. Only by changing the leadership and the outdated philosophy of the party can it survive and be renewed. Without such change, it will simply vanish as a political force.
It is in this setting that KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) is orchestrating unrest in Taiwan. He knows his days are numbered, and he must do anything he can to prolong his tenure. One sure way is to seed agitation, continue protests, no matter what the substance of the arguments, as long as the whining mantra "truth, justice, democracy" can be repeated over and over -- as though the KMT is truly concerned about democracy, justice or the truth. It was never interested in these matters before, and is not concerned about them in its present form.
The KMT is concerned mostly with power, and its vision of "rightful rule" over Taiwan is based on an outdated, paternalistic theory that the people are too weak and ignorant to rule themselves.
Beijing adheres to the same theory. It is the governing principle for dictators and tyrants, communists and autocrats. The KMT's demonstrators ought to think about this. If they tear down Taiwan's democracy, they might be doing the "Hong Kong two-step" with Beijing before too long.
Lee Long-hwa
United States
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