Former President Lee Teng-hui (
Speaking at the launch of his new book, Witness Taiwan: President Chiang Ching-kuo and Me (
However, Lee said "people within the KMT only followed Chiang's ideas on the surface. They didn't truly carry out those ideas. The KMT leaders couldn't appreciate Chiang's expectations [for localization and democratization], but were only reminiscing about the benefits they reaped in the party-state era."
"The March 20 presidential election signified the final termination of the KMT's party state. Those people in the KMT trying to secure their party-state privileges don't understand Chiang. If the KMT wants to regain its power, it must change its direction," Lee said.
He noted that Taiwan is embarking on a journey to become a normal country and that writing a new constitution is necessary to complete this goal, which should be jointly carried out by all political parties.
Meanwhile, People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) yesterday slammed Lee's book as an attempt to usurp Chiang's political aura.
"Former president Lee launched the book wanting to prove that he is Chiang's torch-bearer," Soong said in a letter published yesterday in the Chinese-language United Daily.
"But people's eyes are open, and other than proving once again the lasting impression of Chiang's spirit and style, [Lee's effort in launching the book] cannot aid anyone who tries to seize Chiang's political popularity and prestige," Soong said. The letter was published in an apparent effort to coincide with the launch of Lee's book yesterday.
The book narrates how Lee was chosen by Chiang to be his vice president and how Chiang, in the last years of his presidency, ushered in policies for the democratization and localization of the KMT party state.
To support his claim that Lee is not Chiang's torch-bearer, Soong compared and contrasted Chiang and Lee in his letter.
Soong said that Chiang, being steadfast and honest, had strived during his tenure as president to emphasize the distribution of wealth, promote ethnic harmony, eradicate corruption and safeguard the Republic of China (ROC).
Soong claimed that Lee, on the other hand, knew many political tricks and that he accelerated the widening gap between the nation's rich and poor, promoted disunity, created "black gold" politics and worked to destroy the ROC.
"The Chinese culture which Chiang had strived to exalt and enhance during his term was neglected by Lee. [Would you] consider that as inheriting Chiang's [spirit and political ideals]?" Soong asked rhetorically.
"If Chiang in heaven knows [what Lee had done,] I am afraid he might be shedding tears," Soong said.
Soong also lambasted Lee as "one who, for the sake of winning, would do things by hook or by crook ... the KMT lost its unity because of Lee, Lee pulled out the party's assets, ruined and spoiled the party and led it into financial dire straits, and eventually, lost the position as ruling party."
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