Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday joined the newly established Taiwan Youth Anti-Communist Corps (台灣青年反共救國團).
“The establishment of the Taiwan Anti-Communist Youth Corps highlighted the fact that the Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] owes Taiwanese an explanation for why it was anti-Communist before but is now leaning toward China to such a degree? Why such a turn-around? Where is Taiwan’s destiny under the KMT’s radical change?” Tsai asked, making a reference to the China Youth Anti-Communist Nation Salvation Corps (中國青年反共救國團) established by then-premier Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國) on Oct. 31, 1952.
China Youth Anti-Communist Nation Salvation Corps upheld anti-communist doctrines and organized military training camps for high school, college and university students.
PHOTO: CHIEN JUNG-FONG, TAIPEI TIMES
It later changed its name to China Youth Nation Salvation Corps (中國青年救國團) on Oct. 31, 2000, and transformed itself into a private organization aimed at guiding youth in their growth and development.
Tsai said yesterday that when she was a college student, she had joined a hiking program sponsored by the China Youth Anti-Communist Nation Salvation Corps.
Political commentator Paul Lin (林保華), who established the new group, said its aim was to help Taiwanese uphold the nation’s sovereignty by gaining a clear understanding of China’s nature.
“It can be confusing for some to compare the China Youth Anti-Communist Nation Salvation Corps of fifty years ago to today’s Taiwan Youth Anti-Communist Corps,” said former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), who also attended yesterday.
“At the time, the KMT popularized slogans about ‘terminating the evil communists,’ but it now leans toward China,” Su said. “That confuses Taiwanese.”
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY RICH CHANG
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