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Man's arrest exposes pan-blue lies

Numerous broadcasts of former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan's (連戰) visits to China showed crowds enthusiastically waving the KMT flag. One supporter even held up a poster that read, "Brother Chan, you move us" for the cameras. Such displays of support are atypical for the Chinese public.

Moreover, it is inconceivable that communist China is home to factories that churn out KMT flags, raising the question of where the KMT flags came from. From a business perspective, manufacturing KMT flags would be pointless -- after all, who would buy such flags in China after Lien left? Of course, from a political perspective, producing KMT flags in China would be an even worse idea.

Recently, a 23-year-old Chong-qing man named Zhang Qi (張起) -- a medical school graduate and a member of the "Chinese Pan-blue Alliance," an organization established around the time of the Tiananmen Massacre anniversary by Chinese youth who admire Sun Yat-sen and support the KMT -- was arrested for displaying the KMT and Republic of China flags in the mountain area where he lives.

The incident received wide coverage in the overseas Chinese-language press, as did recently released Chinese activist Huang Qi's (黃琦) open letter to KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) calling on Ma to "help his pan-blue brethren in China." Ma turned a deaf ear to the letter, failing to criticize Beijing or call for the Chongqing man's release. Instead it was Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lai I-chung (賴怡忠) who had the good sense to speak up for the Chinese pan-blue activitist.

The incident underscores once again that the pan-blue leaders' eagerness to press palms with China's elite has nothing to do with upholding the Three Principles of the People, ie, nationalism, democracy and the livelihoods of the people, as envisaged by Sun when he founded the KMT.

As one Chinese writer put it: "Lien Chan was never interested in visiting the oppressed descendants of KMT members; his agenda was to enjoy scenic landscapes and sing the praises of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Such sycophancy reveals [pan-blue leaders'] intentions of using China in the pursuit of political interests back home."

Huang in his open letter calling for the release of the Chongqing man mentioned that Chinese Internet users have already expressed their disapproval of Ma in numerous online forums and have called on the KMT to own up to its responsibilities.

"Foreign and local media are focused on this Chinese man who was jailed for his support of the KMT and its Three Principles of the People; however, the KMT -- the very keepers of the three principles and a supposed advocate of human rights in China -- is silent. How hypocritical," Huang said.

Not only is the KMT hypocritical, but it is deceiving both itself and others. Ma has announced that the KMT seeks to build a membership in China, but he dares say nothing when a member in the Chinese Pan-blue Alliance is arrested for waving the KMT flag. Build up membership? That's a lie.

When President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Ma last met, Ma announced that if Chen distrusted Beijing, then the KMT could act as mediator, communicating with the CCP on his behalf. He also said that he was certain that the KMT's understanding of the CCP would lead to successful negotiations.

Now, when communication is urgently needed to save a KMT supporter in China locked up for waving a KMT flag, Ma has nothing to say. The Chinese youth are being deceived by Ma and Lien. They don't know that the KMT couldn't care less about their well-being, or that the KMT just wants to get back in power and that it is just as devoid of idealism as the CCP.

Cao Changqing is a freelance writer based in the US.

Translated by Max Hirsch
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