Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) seems depressed that most people in her party — from the heavyweights to regular members — are reluctant to throw their full support behind her, and has accused the party of having a “defeatist” attitude. However, before she gets too upset, she might want to look to herself to find why there is such a “defeatist” atmosphere within the KMT.
Having announced on Wednesday that she would take a break from her campaign itinerary, Hung posted a message on Facebook on Thursday night saying that she had been upset about the chaotic political situation in the nation; that the KMT had a “defeatist” attitude about next year’s election; and that she had been staying in a Buddhist monastery and had asked a bodhisattva to bestow on her “the wisdom to attain peace of mind.”
Before blaming her KMT comrades of having a defeatist attitude, Hung should realize that she has to shoulder some of the blame. Since the beginning, her political ideologies have been contrary to mainstream understanding: No wonder her comrades would lack confidence — or even courage — to back her campaign.
For example, when it comes to cross-strait relations, the vast majority of Taiwanese say Taiwan and China are two separate political entities and prefer maintaining the “status quo.” However, while the KMT was struggling to convince everyone to believe in the so-called “1992 consensus” of “one China, different interpretations,” Hung did not hesitate to criticize it, and proposed that there should be “one China, same interpretation.”
Furthermore, as Hung’s new proposal on cross-strait relations shocked the nation, she went on to say in a radio interview that she could not mention the existence of the Republic of China (ROC), because when mentioning the ROC along with the People’s Republic of China, it would mean that there are “two Chinas,” and that goes against her idea of “one China, same interpretation.” Therefore, Hung has failed the test on cross-strait relations.
She did not do any better on foreign relations. After Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) returned from her visit to the US in June, Hung was asked if she had any plan to visit the US as well.
She answered: “If I would not get a better reception than Tsai, why should I go?”
The response triggered criticism from the public, with some labeling her comment inappropriate.
Hung played it down by saying that she was only playing coy.
When it comes to domestic issues, Hung does not seem to be in line with mainstream public opinion — or with KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) — either.
Although opinion polls show that the majority of Taiwanese support ending nuclear power and that Chu repeatedly said that it is the KMT’s ultimate objective to make Taiwan a nuclear-free nation, Hung has repeatedly pronounced her support for nuclear energy, insisting that it is the “only safe way” forward for energy policy.
If Hung could only realize how far she is from mainstream public opinion in a presidential campaign in which the KMT is already in a disadvantaged position, she might understand why there is such a “defeatist” atmosphere within the party.
If Hung is a genuine Buddhist, she should know that the core idea in the Buddha’s teaching is that everyone is on their own, and should therefore be responsible for, and shoulder the consequences of, their actions.
Hung should not ask a bodhisattva to bestow on her “the wisdom to attain peace of mind.” Rather, she should find it herself, and in doing so, also drop the prejudices so she can find a way to break through the defeatism in the KMT.
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