Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presumptive presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu’s (洪秀柱) comments on China and cross-strait issues have sent shockwaves through the nation.
During an interview several days ago, Hung said it was impossible to talk of the existence of the Republic of China (ROC) because to admit to such a thing would be saying that there were two Chinas. For a presumptive presidential candidate to make such an assertion — that you cannot talk of the existence of the nation you seek to lead — is confusing to say the least.
Hung’s China policy follows the “one China, same interpretation” formula. On the face of it, this does not sit well with the assertion that it is impossible to talk of the existence of the ROC, but really there is no contradiction at all. This is because her core values regarding this matter are clear and consistent: That is, there is only “one China” and, since she finds it impossible to acknowledge the ROC’s existence, it is clear which country she is referring to when she says “China.”
In past Taiwanese elections, there have generally been two types of candidates: Those who support Taiwanese independence and those who support unification with China.
The KMT has historically presented itself as being the defender of the ROC. During elections, it always leans on slogans about it being the champion of the ROC, and the contention that voting for its opponent is an existential threat to the ROC itself. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidates have often been regarded as suspicious or attacked for their party’s pro-independence stance.
According to a poll conducted by the Taiwan Brain Trust last month, 57.7 percent of respondents favor “maintaining the ‘status quo’” regarding the independence/unification issue in cross-strait relations, and 71.8 percent agreed with DPP Chairperson and presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) pragmatic position on maintaining the “status quo” — a clear difference from past attitudes among Taiwanese.
While Hung has since retracted her controversial statement, she has revealed her true colors and her desire for unification.
Her self-emasculatory — for Taiwan — formula of “one China, same interpretation” is not only unpalatable for Beijing, it is also something that Taiwanese find unacceptable. Hung, the “red hot chili pepper,” who was originally considered an outlier candidate just to get the nominations ball rolling, is becoming deeper blue with each passing day, and she seems unable to bear closer scrutiny.
Her inadvisable ramblings have sent her KMT colleagues scrambling. The extreme divisions the coming election campaign is likely to cause, and the danger of having an extreme pro-unification faction holding the reins of the KMT, is cause for concern.
Chang Ching-yun is an assistant research fellow at the Taiwan Brain Trust.
Translated by Paul Cooper
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