Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairwoman-elect Cheng Li-wun’s (鄭麗文) victory in the party’s leadership race saw a new development in Chinese interference in Taiwanese politics — internal party elections are in the mix. The case demonstrated the closed-off nature of the KMT’s internal structure, the emergence of a “pan-red” coalition and the collapse of the party’s establishment. It might also represent an new threat to Taiwan’s politics.
Taiwan’s elections have been subject to Chinese meddling by various means and to various extents — our country has been recognized internationally as China’s primary target of political interference.
Beijing’s efforts have always ultimately fallen short thanks to Taiwanese society’s resistance and democratic resilience. After China’s achievements in the KMT’s leadership elections, this is no longer the case. Even the KMT’s most basic ability to resist has been compromised, and Cheng is set to be its very first “Beijing-appointed” chair.
It is rumored that central control of the KMT falls to the pro-unification camp, as characterized by former KMT chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱). Hung’s team, including her former office director Chiao Cheng-chung (喬正中), former KMT deputy secretary-general Chang Ya-ping (張雅屏) and former National Security Council deputy secretary-general Philip Yang (楊永明), served as the core of Cheng’s campaign.
Significant support also came from former KMT secretary-general Lee Chien-lung (李乾龍) — who has made frequent visits to China in recent years — as well as former Taipei county commissioner Chou Hsi-wei (周錫瑋), former KMT mainland affairs director Chang Jung-kung (張榮恭), and Taoyuan city council speaker Chiu Yi-sheng(邱奕勝), each noteworthy for pro-Beijing inclinations.
It was reported that prior to the elections, Cheng was already considering Lee and Chiu for the vice-chairmanship and reinstating Lee as party secretary-general, with Lee confirmed for both positions. The move is in line with Beijing’s calls for central KMT positions to go to people in whom “both sides of the Strait have a high degree of trust.” It also closes off any opportunity for pro-US or pro-Western forces to get a footing in the party.
As for the impact on Taiwan’s wider political sphere, partisan clashes look set to rise. The guiding principle of Chen as chairwoman appears to be to derail President William Lai (賴清德) and to leave the Democratic Progressive Party with little room to maneuver. Such conditions can only ramp up antagonism in exchanges between the ruling and opposition parties, and between the government’s legislative and executive branches. This throws policy items critical to Taiwan’s national security into question, including defense spending and security enhancement — a development warranting national concern.
Tzou Jiing-wen is editor-in-chief of the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper).
Translated by Gilda Knox Streader
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