Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) has come under fire amid reports that the party has selected Xu Chunying (徐春鶯), a Chinese immigrant and an advocate for foreign-born spouses, who was allegedly a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) cadre, for its list of legislator-at-large nominees.
To justify his selection, Ko said that as more than 1 million Taiwanese residents have links to Chinese spouses, they have a right to be represented and should not be treated like enemies.
However, Ko’s nomination would throw Chinese spouses in Taiwan in greater fear.
As a former CCP cadre, Xu would have had close connections with the Chinese government and the CCP. Add the fact that she has maintained frequent contacts with Chinese political organizations.
If Xu invites or visits any Chinese spouses, asking them to join her organization — the New Residents Development Association — they would not dare turn down her invitation or reject assigned tasks. This is out of fear that they have no idea if Xu has the CCP’s backing or not. Chinese who have immigrated to Taiwan might fear for their families’ safety in China, worried that their families might be in danger if they refuse to comply with Xu’s orders.
Chinese spouses who came to Taiwan seeking love and starting a new family here are also looking for a way out, away from China’s clutches. Xu’s actions and potential rise to further power would only send their lives into disarray and render their efforts to escape China futile.
Ko nominating Xu is aimed at not only commandeering the support of families with Chinese spouses, but also sending a message to China that Ko is more capable than the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) of proposing policies that cater to the CCP’s interests.
By doing this, he is soliciting China’s support to back him in the “blue-white alliance” and see him as the leader of the anti-Democratic Progress Party coalition.
As another party with the same agenda in mind would also be vying for these ballots, these sycophantic moves could undermine national security, putting Taiwan in grave danger amid rising tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
As Ko and the TPP are only seeking their own interests instead of bringing benefit to people or thinking of national welfare, Taiwanese should not hand the presidency to such a character in next year’s election.
Lin Shiou-jeng is chair of Chung Chou University of Science and Technology’s marketing and logistics management department.
Translated by Rita Wang
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