KMT to blame for Taiwan's international status: DPP

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers slammed the KMT at a press conference yesterday as being responsible for insisting that the Republic of China (ROC) withdraw from the UN 34 years ago and for letting Taiwan lapse into international isolation, while today it has become China's number one accomplice in seeking the unification of Taiwan with China.

DPP Legislator Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇) held a news conference yesterday to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the UN and urged people to learn the truth about how Taiwan got stuck in its present international fix and remember the historical lessons.

"Taiwan is the only nation that could not experience the joy of the UN's 60th anniversary as the rest of the world celebrated the day on Oct. 25," Tien said.

Tien pointed out that it was the KMT government that sacrificed Taiwan's interests and rights because of its "one China" illusion. It ignored the US and Japan's efforts to help and its actions eventually led to Taiwan being marooned in international isolation.

"People might think that it doesn't matter if Taiwan joins the UN or not," Tien said.

"But in fact, for any nation, it is increasingly important to be a member," especially in the face of the growing tide of globalization. Many matters concerning people's rights and economic development require statehood in order to enable participation," she said.

In organizations such as the IMF, the WTO and the World Health Organization (WHO), Taiwan has been obstructed from obtaining full member status, Tien said.

DPP caucus whip William Lai (賴清德), who also attended the news conference, pointed out that it was the KMT who had viewed communist China as a "bandit regime" after it fled to Taiwan in 1949 and it was the KMT who indoctrinated the people of Taiwan to believe that "retaking the Mainland" was the ultimate goal.

"However, as soon as it lost executive power, it gave up on this insistence and instead became the Chinese Communist Party's biggest helper in their unification war with Taiwan," Lai said. "The KMT is totally dishonest."

"KMT members line up to pay tribute to the Chinese authorities these days and promote the policies that attempt to sell-out Taiwan to China," Lai said.

"It should be held responsible for this period of history and learn to curb its evil intentions right away," he said.