Political parties are like humans in that forgetting who they are and what they are supposed to do or not do is the worst thing that can happen to them. When lawmakers quarreled recently over the proposals for the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp (THSRC, 台灣高鐵), the KMT was forgetting that it used to be the ruling party, while the DPP was forgetting that it is the ruling party.
A major project of the KMT government, the high-speed railway project was finalized by KMT Secretary-General Lin Fong-cheng (林豐正) when he was minister of transportation and communications and KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and Vice Chairman Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) were vice president and premier, respectively. They should have a clearer understanding than anyone else of the contents of THSRC contracts and the division of rights and responsibilities between the government and the private sector.
But these former policymakers remained mute as lawmakers bickered over the THSRC proposals. They not only failed to defend the policies they had made, but allowed party mem-bers to wantonly lambaste the THSRC. The KMT caucus whip went as far as to liken the high-speed railway dispute to a war between the man in the street and conglomerates.
The KMT had obviously forgotten that the chief culprit is itself. So by lashing out at the THSRC, it was actually criticizing its party chairman, vice chairman and secretary-general.
If Lin, Siew and Lien made a huge mistake by signing an unequal agreement with the THSRC, the KMT certainly has the right to try and undo a mistake that it has come to regret. But both the party and these former officials must admit their mistake first. It is certainly unreasonable to expect the DPP to bear the responsibility for the KMT's mistake.
Even though the KMT had a falling out with the Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) government over the termination of construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, the DPP continues to promote the KMT's THSRC policy lock, stock and barrel. The KMT, however, has spared no effort in seeking to obstruct the government, even to the extent of demanding that the government breach the contracts.
I don't know how the KMT can explain the widely different positions it has taken on this important matter of national policy over two short years.
The biggest problem undermining DPP rule over has been the party's failure to prioritize matters. Senior government officials frequently make statements on trivial matters, but appear ambivalent or simply remain silent on vital policy matters, as evident in the THSRC case.
Chen warns "professional shareholders" about endangering corporate management. Premier Yu Shyi-kun dresses down Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) for allegedly breaching certain regulations. But they have singularly failed to make public their position on this major aspect of policy, which is central to Tai-wan's development. Instead, they have allowed the controversy to snowball.
The DPP is manifestly acting with gross negligence in failing to deal squarely with this major policy item, work on which is well underway and will probably now be forced to end prematurely. THSRC Chairwoman Nita Ing (殷琪) was too polite when she criticized the DPP for lacking determination.
The high-speed railway is Tai-wan's first build-operate-transfer project, and one which should be undertaken in accordance with the fundamental spirit of "no political interference." But it has become mired in politics. No matter who wins and loses this mud-slinging war, the THSRC case has allowed the public to see the ugly ways of both the KMT and the DPP.
Wang Chien-chuang is president of The Journalist magazine.
Translated by Jackie Lin
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