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Editorial: Let Chiang stay for now

The last few weeks have seen the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government push on with its efforts to rid the nation of its Chinese Nationalist legacy, starting with the military's decision to remove statues of the late dictator Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) from bases around the nation. This was followed by the dropping of references to "China" from the names of several state-run businesses and now plans to remodel and rename CKS Memorial Hall.

With the administration planning to rename the memorial "Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall" in commemoration of the nation's democratic transformation, it would appear that the days of Chiang's statue in the memorial are numbered. After all, one cannot imagine a monument to democracy with a huge edifice of someone who was the very antithesis of the concept as its centerpiece.

While the DPP has done the right thing with the name changes -- however ridiculous some of the new appellations may be -- facilitating the complete disappearance of Chiang from parks and street names around the country might not be the best course of action for now, although it may seem like the next logical step in the campaign to rid Taiwan of these unwelcome Nationalist relics.

The company names desperately needed to be changed, and pushing them through during a legislative recess was a wise strategy, as it negated the possibility of immediate retaliation from the pan-blue opposition. And while the changes may have ruffled the feathers of a few pro-China loyalists in the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), it is unlikely that they will move to change them back, as such a move would demonstrate to the Taiwanese electorate where the party's true loyalties lie.

But the campaign to topple Chiang from his pedestal is a different matter, as this strikes at the very heart of everything the pan-blue camp stands for. Attacking the KMT icon, however discredited he may be in the eyes of most Taiwanese, will provoke a response. Many of the party's old guard owe everything to the Chiangs, so it is unlikely that they will lie down and let the government steamroll its plans through. Indeed, the ideas have already drawn a heated response from sectors of the pan-blue camp, with KMT Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), son of former premier and Chiang loyalist Hau Pei-tsun (郝柏村), and the city council leading the charge, laying claim to the site and promising a fight to the bitter end.

While the government may eventually be able to overpower any resistance and complete its plans, it must weigh the repercussions.

The government must bear in mind that the KMT still holds a legislative majority and may increase its efforts to push through contentious legislation in retaliation. The government's fiscal budget for this year remains to be passed and, more important for its campaign for transitional justice, the DPP caucus has to try to protect the Central Election Committee from KMT efforts to restructure it in its favor, halting a referendum on its assets. If the government wants to make any progress on recovering the KMT's stolen assets, then it must tread carefully.

Ridding this nation of its Nationalist relics in one fell swoop is a good idea, but it would be more sensible to hold back for a while on aspects of the plan until more important issues have been settled, instead of pushing on with an approach that might jeopardize the reform process.

Divesting the KMT of its ill-gotten gains has to be more important than getting rid of a statue of the generalissimo, however repugnant its continued presence may be.
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