Print

Mail

wiki links

KMT slogan betrays colonial past

With the Dec. 3 local government elections drawing near, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has vowed to emerge victorious and is using the slogan, "Winning back Taiwan."

After ditching its former rallying cries of "Retaking the Mainland" and "Liberating the compatriots in China," and losing out to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in two presidential elections, the KMT has now found a new goal and has replaced its former high-toned ideals.

We do not know yet if it was former DPP members who suggested this strategy to the KMT. In the past, the DPP loved to exclaim, "Give Taiwan a chance." Now, the KMT is regarding the country as an object which it covets. But whether the KMT wants to win back Taiwan for itself or on Beijing's behalf, the KMT still cannot shake its image as a former colonial ruler.

Is the DPP going to "lose" Taiwan now that the KMT's "Win back Taiwan" strategy is in full swing? Well, since the Dec. 3 elections have nothing to do with the future of the nation's sovereignty, the KMT's "Win back Taiwan" tactic is simply a prelude to seeking power in the 2008 presidential election.

For whom exactly is the KMT "winning back" Taiwan? Is it doing this for Beijing? The idea that it should win back Taiwan suggests that the KMT believes that Taiwan once belonged to it. In the past, no matter how desperately the DPP tried to unseat the KMT, it could only humbly turn to the slogan of "Give Taiwan a chance." By contrast, the KMT is still covetous of power.

The KMT has not yet become localized and is still boastful of its Chinese origins.

Because of its past failings, the KMT has encouraged the People's Republic of China to terminate the Republic of China. Thus, the elections in Taiwan are not a competition between different political parties, but rather a competition between Taiwan and China.

While the KMT is trumpeting its idea of "Winning back Taiwan," the DPP is now facing the possibility of losing next month's elections.

Moreover, the nation is at a crossroads in terms of whether to continue its planned reforms. Unfortunately, in failing to differentiate itself from the KMT, the DPP has disappointed the Taiwanese who have long fought for such reform.

Will the Taiwanese be willing to lose Taiwan after seeing that some of those shouting the slogan, "Win Back Taiwan," are former DPP members?

Lee Min-yung is a poet and social critic.

Translated by Daniel Cheng
This story has been viewed 1500 times.