If the DPP can rise from dangwai (
In the near term, the TSU should concentrate on securing third place among the parties. This is not hard to do, because of the People First Party's (PFP) incoherence in direction and purpose, its total retrograde in Taiwan's cause and democracy. The KMT bubble will burst once its illegal assets are spent or taken away.
The TSU can address issues such as constitutional reform. The DPP will not touch upon issues of national name, sovereignty, territory or symbols. Yet, the "Republic of China" will lead nowhere. Eventually, Taiwan's international space and commercial interests will be squeezed by China without these changes. Taiwan will be backed into a corner, and will have to fight like a trapped beast. This is where the TSU can distinguish itself. There may be no "consensus" now, but the truth will become more and more clear. Taiwan has no alternative but to face up to it.
The DPP cannot have it both ways, promoting Taiwan's independence come election time, only to drift toward the "middle of the road" after an election. "Green" voters may not have an alternative now. It is up to the TSU to provide that alternative as Taiwan's faithful opposition party.
I am looking forward to the day when the TSU becomes "the" faithful Taiwanese opposition party, and beyond.
Chen Ming-chung
Chicago, Illinois
The muting of the line “I’m from Taiwan” (我台灣來欸), sung in Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese), during a performance at the closing ceremony of the World Masters Games in New Taipei City on May 31 has sparked a public outcry. The lyric from the well-known song All Eyes on Me (世界都看見) — originally written and performed by Taiwanese hip-hop group Nine One One (玖壹壹) — was muted twice, while the subtitles on the screen showed an alternate line, “we come here together” (阮作伙來欸), which was not sung. The song, performed at the ceremony by a cheerleading group, was the theme
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