Wed, Jan 23, 2002 page8

• Editorial: Patriotism first and foremost

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  KMT spokesman Wu Ching-ji (吳清基) announced on Monday the party's "three nos" policy, under which it "does not advocate, agree or encourage" its members joining the Cabinet. Any member planning to defy this edict must either resign from the party or face expulsion, said Wu. To counter the KMT's selfishness, the people of Taiwan should welcome any party members brave enough to accept a Cabinet portfolio with open arms.

  The KMT says its policy is motivated by the need to institutionalize political accountability by parties. In other words, if non-DPP people join the Cabinet, it will be harder to hold the DPP accountable for policy problems or errors. Who are they kidding? The KMT's apparent belief that the public is too stupid to figure out who to blame if you have a president from the DPP and a DPP government but some non-DPP Cabinet members is downright insulting.

  That the KMT appears to have an abundance of talented people, especially in the fields of finance and trade, is due more to Taiwan's recent history than the party's ability to cultivate great minds. During its decades-long authoritarian rule, joining the KMT was the only way to have a political career and contribute to the country. Given the party's historical inability to differentiate between itself and the nation, one might ask how much of the nurturing of party talent was provided by national, rather than party, resources? Under the circumstances, using political accountability as an excuse to keep KMT talent from joining the Cabinet is yet another sign that the party has always placed its own interests above those of the nation.

  The most obvious victim of the KMT's policy is newly-elected at-large legislator Chiang Ping-kun (江丙坤). Due to party pressure, Chiang turned down an invitation to both become the vice premier and to return to his old job as the head of the Council for Economic Planning and Development (經建會).

  Then there is the dilemma of General Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明), nominated to be the next minister of national defense. Tang, a KMT member for more than 40 years, has said that he will refuse to resign from the party if he takes the job. Asking Tang to choose between his country and the party is ridiculous, especially since a soldier's primary loyalty should always be to his country.

  The KMT has been relentless in its condemnation of former members who have joined the Cabinet as traitors selfishly selling out the party for their own interests. Apparently the KMT believes that its members must not only put party loyalty above all else, but that the party-member bond is equivalent to the marriage vow of "until death do us apart."

  It is too bad that the KMT doesn't believe in political accountablitity -- or loyalty for that matter -- when it comes to party members who have shown themselves more than willing to toady up to Beijing in return for business or political favors. Nary a harsh word has been heard from KMT headquarters about these people "selfishly selling out the party for their own interests."

  Any KMT members joining the Cabinet deserve a pat on the back for placing national interests first -- if not a rousing cheer. Whether they choose to resign their party membership or face expulsion, these people will be able to hold their heads high, confident in the knowledge that the people of Taiwan appreciate what they are doing, even if their former comrades are incapable of doing so.
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