KMT lawmakers yesterday advised Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presumptive presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) to focus on internal affairs and economic policies.
KMT Legislator Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾) said the lunchtime discussion was about public policy.
“I told her that a nation’s leader is unworthy of the title if they cannot provide young people with a vision, make housing affordable and encourage them to have children,” Lo said.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
“[Hung] agreed, so she should now begin to work on issues concerning the economy, internal affairs and how to enhance people’s well-being, including by narrowing the wealth gap,” Lo said.
“Hung was humble and polite, stressing that she would like lawmakers to offer their opinions, as she is not so familiar with financial and economic issues,” KMT Legislator Lai Shih-bao (賴士葆) said.
Lai said that he found Hung to be “more knowledgeable than I expected,” adding that he has faith in her.
Lo said President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Vice President Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) should be included in a proposed campaign tactic.
KMT Legislator Apollo Chen (陳學聖) on Friday said that Hung should form an “iron triangle” with KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) to promote the party in the run-up to next year’s presidential and legislative elections.
However, Lo said the strategy should be a “pentagon,” adding that “victory would only eventuate if all five angles are solid and stable.”
Lo called on Hung to help resolve tensions between Ma and Wang.
Hung said Wang “has always been an asset to the party,” adding that the media should not “make a fuss about [the supposed Ma-Wang row].”
Hung shunned questions about her “one China, same interpretation” proposal for cross-strait relations after being asked about reports from KMT lawmakers that she had promised to drop the term.
“The proposal was simply a return to the party’s political platform, which is consolidation of the [so-called] 1992 consensus,” Hung said, referring to a term former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) admitted making up in 2000 — a tacit understanding between the KMT and the Chinese government that both sides of the Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
“You guys [journalists] are never able to correctly understand my remarks,” she said.
“It is not that I look down on [your ability to comprehend], but [I could not explain my ideas completely] in the short time we have,” she said.
“Let us simply say that [my policy] is to return to the party’s platform and maintain stable and long-term peace for Taiwan,” Hung said.
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