The competition for the new chairmanship of the Chinese Nationalist Party is now heating up as the two contenders -- Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
In a controversial move to protest recent fishing disputes between Taiwan and Japan, Wang hosted a naval frigate show -- in the company of Minister of National Defense Lee Jye (
To counteract Wang's maneuvers, Ma kick-started his campaign by pointing the finger at President Chen Shui-bian (
The more Ma or Wang try to outdo one another, the more evident it is that neither are capable of leading the KMT -- let alone being a potential presidential candidate.
Ma and Wang will have to try harder to convince KMT members that either could be the one to lead the century-old party out of its morass of "black gold" politics, the lingering shadow of its four decades of "white terror" suppression and the swamp of billions in ill-gotten party assets.
What most pan-blue supporters are looking for in their next leader is not someone who will simply follow the so-called "Lien Chan (
First, how should they construct a balanced and pragmatic cross-strait relationship based on the principle of safeguarding Taiwan's sovereignty and dignity -- instead of following in the footsteps of Lien's kowtowing to appease Beijing?
Second, how would they construct a strong leadership based on a determination to initiate internal reforms and lead the party in its role as a "loyal and rational opposition?"
Ma's charisma disguises his lack of leadership capability. His squeaky-clean image within the pan-blue camp inhibits his personal links with the more hard-line party comrades. His status as a Mainlander with a middle-class urban political style constrains his support base in southern Taiwan.
Wang is well-known for his connections with local factions, especially in southern Taiwan, and has displayed his mastery of political maneuvering as speaker of the Legislative Yuan for years. But his background as a KMT local cadre and faction chief makes it difficult for him to avoid association with "black gold" politics.
The third question is, how would either man consolidate the notion of Taiwan consciousness to develop a "win-win" solution for peace across the Taiwan Strait based on identifying with Taiwan's sovereign nationhood?
The year 2008 will be a critical juncture for cross-strait peace, and also an essential moment for bridging the political gap between the blue and the green camps. It is therefore necessary for both Ma and Wang to address the question of how to map out a "great reconciliation" domestically and to issue a statesman-like call for national unity based on making Taiwan's national interests and the welfare of its 23 million people their priority.
So far, neither man has demonstrated that he is qualified for such leadership because neither is able to offer a feasible vision for Taiwan. This deficiency is the greatest crisis within the KMT.
Liu Kuan-teh is a Taipei-based political commentator.
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