Anyone who embraces the values of democracy and human rights, such as myself, would strongly condemn the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) for its defense of Nazi symbolism and would not help but think that the KMT has never changed its dictatorial nature.
As a legislator in the democratic country of Taiwan, I strongly condemn the KMT for praising the Nazis. That goes against universal and Taiwanese values. As a generation born after the lifting of martial law, democracy and human rights are concepts deeply rooted in our hearts. I completely disagree with the KMT’s actions. That shows that even after becoming an opposition party, the KMT has not changed its nature as a dictatorial party.
On Tuesday evening in New Taipei City, Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), a KMT member leading the campaign to recall a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator, openly gave a Nazi salute. Upon arriving at the New Taipei City Prosecutors’ Office for questioning over alleged petition forgery, Sung was wearing an armband bearing the swastika and carrying a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf, and gave the Nazi salute. That move shocked Taiwanese society.
Sung’s behavior was condemned by all sectors of Taiwan, including President William Lai (賴清德). Surprisingly, the initial reaction by KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) was not to condemn such action, but to defend Sung’s use of Nazi symbols as a way to protest against the government. Compared with Sung, Chu’s reaction as the head of the second-largest political party in Taiwan was more shocking.
However, for those who are familiar with Taiwan’s politics and history, Chu’s remarks might not come as a surprise. For many years, the KMT has opposed transitional justice. It is opposed to legislation and policies on transitional justice, and refuses to return ill-gotten party assets it acquired during Taiwan’s authoritarian period.
The KMT’s connivance of glorifying the Nazis has become an international incident. The German and Israeli diplomatic missions in Taiwan publicly criticized it.
Although Chu and the KMT later changed their minds and condemned the Nazis, they did not apologize for embracing them.
The values of Taiwanese are freedom, democracy and human rights. The KMT is completely unable to represent today’s society. We must strongly condemn the KMT’s indulgence in Nazi worship.
Wu Pei-yi is a Democratic Progressive Party legislator.
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