Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) in a radio interview on Friday said it is understandable that some pro-localization Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) members would want to form the “Taiwan Nationalist Party Alliance,” given that KMT presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu’s (洪秀柱) dismal poll numbers seem to be negatively affecting the party’s prospects in next year’s legislative elections.
Lee said that the KMT is trapped in uncertainty, with no helmsman.
While talk of party solidarity is loud, its leaders are passing the buck around, Lee said.
Solidarity is not achieved by paying lip service, Lee said, adding that KMT leaders should have the determination and courage to fight for the party rather than for themselves.
Lee cited political commentator Hu Chung-hsin (胡忠信), who said that it would not be easy for the KMT to force Hung out of the presidential race, as she would be able to receive a handsome sum from election subsidies.
Hung said the comment was “to judge a virtuous person using a dishonest mindset.”
Asked about the “game change” the election might bring, Lee said that rather than worrying about Beijing’s moves during the presidential interregnum — the period from the elections on Jan. 16 to May 20, when the new president is to be sworn in — it is President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) who would be a source of apprehension, as it is not impossible that he might try to curry favor with Beijing.
During the presidential transition, the legislature will be the only authority counterbalancing the president, Lee said, adding that the new president would have to be resolute in attitude and brace for difficulties with well-thought-out strategies.
Lee said it would not be a problem if Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) became president, but issues concerning the legislature are complicated, and Tsai should pay extra attention to them, as a legislative majority would not easily be achieved.
Lee said that as the US has made clear its unwavering position concerning its Taiwan policy, China would not intervene in the presidential election.
“There is no need to worry about what China might do,” he said.
Lee said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) ordered 300 Boeing jets from the Chicago-based aircraft maker before his state visit to the US last month and aimed to elicit “certain words,” or a change of attitude on the US’ part, that would push Taiwan to endorse the so-called “1992 consensus,” a term former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) admitted making up in 2000 that refers to 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.
However, the US was unyielding in its stance that respects the existence of Taiwan and its democratic system and Washington did not accept any requests from China, Lee said.
“As I see it, it is not possible for China to exert pressure [over the upcoming elections] in Taiwan,” he said.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) is to launch a new program to encourage international students to stay in Taiwan and explore job opportunities here after graduation, Deputy Minister of Education Yeh Ping-cheng (葉丙成) said on Friday. The government would provide full scholarships for international students to further their studies for two years in Taiwan, so those who want to pursue a master’s degree can consider applying for the program, he said. The fields included are science, technology, engineering, mathematics, semiconductors and finance, Yeh added. The program, called “Intense 2+2,” would also assist international students who completed the two years of further studies in
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