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KMT faction discusses policy change

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) must clarify its policy on the issue of Taiwanese sovereignty and incorporate the will of the people or face a permanent fate as an opposition party, according to some KMT politicians and academics at a symposium in Taipei yesterday.

The two-day Taiwan New Hope Forum was held by the newly established KMT faction the Taiwan New Hope Link, composed of a younger generation of KMT members dedicated to reform. The forum ended yesterday with the rising generation of KMT politicians discussing how the party should update its definition of Taiwan's identity and status-quo policy toward cross-strait relations.

With their differing views on Taiwan's identity now seen as a defining characteristic of both the pan-green and pan-blue camps, some speakers felt the KMT must clearly lay out to the people its future direction on Taiwan's status in relation to China.

"The Taiwanese people have already come to see Taiwan as an independent entity, and neither the KMT nor the People First Party (PFP) embrace a reunification with China any longer," said Huang Kwei-Bo (黃奎博), an assistant professor in National Chengchi University's Department of Diplomacy, at the forum yesterday.

In the face of the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) pro-localization and pro-independence stance, other speakers noted the KMT had been able to find a foothold among voters with its status-quo policy and emphasis on Taiwan's traditional title the "Republic of China."

"Members of the Taiwan New Hope Link believe that Taiwan's possible independence or reunification with China depends on the will of the people. The KMT should include independence as a possible option for Taiwan's future and respect the ultimate will of the people," said group co-founder and KMT Legislator Apollo Chen (陳學聖).

"The people's will is unstoppable. Unless the KMT wants to remain out of power forever, the KMT must respect the people's wishes and relax its stance," Chen said.

Academic Hsu Yung-ming (徐永明), a researcher at the Institute of Social Sciences at Academia Sinica, echoed Chen's view.

"If the KMT wants the people's votes, its political platform should be considerate of the language of the Taiwanese people at the grassroots level. The party should not base its policies only on the voices of its northern voter base or on loyal pro-blue supporters; that would be detrimental to the KMT's future development," Hsu said.

Grassroots voters do not relate to the typical highly educated KMT politician, Hsu added.

Language was also an issue discussed. Many Hoklo-speaking voters do not relate to Mandarin Chinese campaigns, Chen pointed out, and may not understand the significance of party promotional materials, such as the party's comparison of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to Adolf Hitler during the run-up to the March presidential election.

In addition, the KMT should be more open to different attitudes and discussion within its ranks, urged Chen.

Forum speakers' comments were tinged with frustration with KMT party leadership in the face of the party's possible long-term downward spiral.

"Only when there is new leadership will new political discourse occur. New leadership must take place to create a focus and future direction for the KMT. Personally, I am cynical about [such] possible changes in the KMT's leadership," Hsu said.
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