People First Party (PFP) presidential candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜) yesterday bowed in apology for what he said were long-term, excruciating pains suffered by Taiwanese nearly four decades ago, amid growing calls for him to apologize for his roles in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) suppression of the freedoms of the press, speech and language under its one-party rule.
“I would like to express my regret for the harms and wounds that once existed in this island of Taiwan... I also want to extend my apologies to those afflicted with such long-standing and agonizing pains,” Soong told a press conference held for the release of his second campaign video in Taipei yesterday morning.
“We must not forget how many families were torn up and how their emotional sufferings have been passed down from generation to generation. I can now relate to such pains. My apology is long overdue,” Soong said.
Photo: CNA
Having served in numerous positions under the regimes of former presidents Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國), the 73-year-old seasoned politician has been facing calls following his announcement for presidential candidacy earlier this month to face up to the skeletons in his closet.
He has been urged to issue a formal apology for his acts of suppression against the freedoms of the press, speech and language during his term as the director-general of the now-dissolved Government Information Office between 1979 and 1984.
During that period, languages other than Mandarin were discouraged and an abundance of publications were banned under Soong’s rein, including leading opposition magazine Formosa Magazine (美麗島).
Soong said he thought he had offered a clear enough explanation for past incidents, but many people still demanded an apology from him for his roles in that period.
“Then a group of young people in the filming team for my second campaign video titled Shaving Beard (刮鬍子) told me that the younger generations could not care less about my explanations or stories,” Soong said.
“They are fed up with you grown-ups’ old and bitter feud. All they see are your condescending attitudes,” Soong quoted them as saying.
Soong said maybe people requesting an apology from him were simply attempting to find someone to represent that period of heartbreak, as well as the violent acts and emotional distress they had been subjected to.
“All they need is a fair and heartfelt sorry... I feel extremely honored to be able to be that someone who helps untie the decades-old knots in their hearts,” Soong said.
He said he did not feel aggrieved in making the apology, and that he had no ulterior motive.
It was the result of a shame-filled process of self-reflection that aimed to put social divisions and long-standing scars to rest in his generation, Soong said.
“History is just and fair. It gave me a temporary spot in that period and then arranged me to engage in self-reflection on other involved parties’ behalf today,” Soong said.
The 73-year-old went on to say that remarks made by Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) when his family was branded as “descendants of the Japanese emperor’s loyal subjects” by prominent KMT veterans during his campaign for the mayorship last year made a profound impression on him.
“Ko said at the time that he could tolerate harsh criticism, but that label was unacceptable to many because it sent a message that a particular generation of people should be held accountable for that period of history,” Soong said.
History is open to different interpretations, Soong said, adding that it should be a mirror rather than a rope that is used to repeatedly tie up the country.
FAST TRACK? Chinese spouses must renounce their Chinese citizenship and pledge allegiance to Taiwan to gain citizenship, some demonstrators said Opponents and supporters of a bill that would allow Chinese spouses to obtain Taiwanese citizenship in four years instead of six staged protests near the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday morning. Those who oppose the bill proposed by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) demanded that Chinese spouses be granted citizenship only after renouncing their Chinese citizenship, passing a citizenship test and pledging allegiance to Taiwan. The demonstrators, who were protesting at a side entrance to the Legislative Yuan on Jinan Road, were mostly members of the Taiwan Association of University Professors and other organizations advocating Taiwanese independence. Supporters of the bill, led
SILENT MAJORITY: Only 1 percent of Chinese rejected all options but war to annex Taiwan, while one-third viewed war as unacceptable, a university study showed Many Chinese are more concerned with developments inside their country than with seeking unification with Taiwan, al-Jazeera reported on Friday. Although China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to annex it, by force if necessary, 23-year-old Chinese Shao Hongtian was quoted by al-Jazeera as saying that “hostilities are not the way to bring China and Taiwan together.” “I want unification to happen peacefully,” Shao said. Al-Jazeera said it changed Shao’s name to respect his wish for anonymity. If peaceful unification is not possible, Shao said he would prefer “things to remain as they are,” adding that many of his friends feel
Taiwan has “absolute air superiority” over China in its own airspace, Deputy Minister of National Defense Po Horng-huei (柏鴻輝) told a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee on Monday, amid concern over whether Taipei could defend itself against a military incursion by Beijing. Po made the remarks in response to a question from Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chiu Chih-wei (邱志偉) on whether Taiwan would have partial or complete air superiority if Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) warplanes were to enter Taiwan’s airspace. Po, a retired pilot, said that the Taiwanese military has “absolute air superiority” over PLA
A shipment of basil pesto imported by Costco Wholesale Taiwan from the US in the middle of last month was intercepted at the border after testing positive for excessive pesticide residue, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. Samples taken from a shipment of the Kirkland Signature brand of basil pesto imported by Costco contained 0.1 milligrams per kilogram of ethylene oxide, exceeding the non-detectable limit. Ethylene oxide is a carcinogenic substance that can be used as a pesticide. The 674kg shipment of basil pesto would either be destroyed or returned to its country of origin, as is the procedure for all