What value does the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) hold in Taiwan? One might say that it is to defend — or at the very least, maintain — truly “blue” qualities. To be truly “blue” — without impurities, rejecting any “red” influence — is to uphold the ideology consistent with that on which the Republic of China (ROC) was established.
The KMT would likely not object to this notion.
However, if the current generation of KMT political elites do not understand what it means to be “blue” — or even light blue — their knowledge and bravery are far too lacking to claim KMT membership. They would cause the KMT to lose political legitimacy in Taiwan.
Should the Legislative Yuan pass a resolution stating that UN Resolution 2758 does not involve Taiwan?
The idea should not be feared like some type of monster merely because it was proposed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) — doing so is to forget what it truly means to be “blue.”
So, what is UN Resolution 2758? Judging from the responses of the KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) — who have a combined majority in the Legislative Yuan — it seems they have not only forgotten their roots, but truly do not understand them.
The KMT dominated power in Taiwan for 59 years. Unless the ROC is already worthless to them, they ought to firmly remember their hatred for the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
In 1971, the year UN Resolution 2758 was passed, a majority of UN members voted to “restore the lawful rights of the PRC in the United Nations,” stating that the PRC was “the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations,” and agreed to “expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek [蔣介石]” from the organization.
Chiang’s government referred to it as being expelled from a “criminal gang” and announced to its citizens that the ROC was withdrawing from the UN of its own accord.
If we do not wish to forget our past, we must acknowledge the harm posed by UN Resolution 2758. Since its passage, Taiwan has been excluded from participating in UN-affiliated organizations such as the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization.
As if taking the ROC’s seat was not enough, the PRC now distorts the resolution’s original meaning by saying it states that Taiwan belongs to China.
The PRC has stolen Taiwan’s space on the international stage and the public’s well-being — why are we not urgently considering paths to break this cycle and defend our country?
If we truly were to see UN Resolution 2758 for what it is, the KMT and the DPP would find consensus in hating a common enemy.
Its passage addressed the issue of China’s representation at the UN, but did nothing to handle the issue of the ROC and Taiwan. The UN merely expelled “the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek” — it made no mention of the ROC or Taiwan.
It is now 2024. How much longer should the 23.5 million citizens of Taiwan continue to be suppressed and overlooked?
It is precisely because the answer to this question is so clear that the US and other international allies repeatedly help Taiwan refute China’s claims.
Last week, the Dutch Senate passed a motion stating that UN Resolution 2758 does not grant the PRC sovereign control over Taiwan, nor does it exclude Taiwan from participating in the UN or other international organizations.
It also required the Dutch government to promote this stance within the EU. How could supporters of the KMT and the TPP not welcome this friendly and just declaration?
Following the DPP’s push to respond by passing a resolution in the Legislative Yuan, it would be reasonable for the KMT to propose a more thorough discussion about the nation’s approach — the public would certainly understand.
However, KMT Secretary-General Lin Szu-ming (林思銘) suddenly and unexpectedly changed their tune, claiming that the resolution must be assessed as to whether it would impact the development of cross-strait peace and worsen tensions between Taiwan and China.
Later, during negotiations with opposing parties, Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) declared the meeting adjourned and confiscated the proposal.
The KMT Central Committee said the main issue is that President William Lai (賴清德) must give up all elements of Taiwanese independence — including all previous mentions of independence within the DPP’s party platform — and focus on the constitutional government of the ROC.
The KMT has lost all direction. What does it even mean to be “blue” anymore? In their eyes, it is evidently to put the feelings of Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) before the teachings of Chiang. Frankly, the ROC seems to have become worthless to them.
Tzou Jiing-wen is editor-in-chief of the Liberty Times (sister newspaper of the Taipei Times).
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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