Given their discontent with the DPP's softening of its China policy, some supporters of Taiwanese independence may shift their support to the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), according to political analysts.
The analysts said the TSU has presented an alternative for pro-independence supporters that are upset with DPP policies they perceive as moving closer toward the "one China" principle.
"Some DPP supporters, especially those that advocate Taiwan's independence have been upset by the government's kowtowing to China. Under the current political situation, the TSU, with its emphasis on the localization path, appears to be the best choice [for these voters]," said political commentator Lee Yung-chih (李永熾), professor of history at National Taiwan University.
According to Lee, incidents such as the DPP's compromise on its claim of Taiwan being an independent sovereign state, the relaxation of the "no haste, be patient" investment policy toward China and moves to establish direct links have incensed the pro-independence camp.
To woo support from neutral voters, the DPP recently took a giant step away from the party's "1999 resolution regarding Taiwan's future" (
But the shift in the DPP's China policy has pushed a portion of the party's supporters to the TSU, with a number of its high-profile pro-independence campaigners making an appearance at a gathering for the National Association of the friends of Lee Teng-hui (
At the event, the pro-independence activists lauded former president Lee -- the spiritual leader of the TSU -- and said "he was unjustly blamed" during his 12 years in power.
Ng Chiautong (黃昭堂), chairman of the World United Formosans for Independence, said that Lee's endorsement of the TSU will attract approximately 30 percent of the pro-independence vote.
"Although Lee is not a member of the TSU, the two are closely connected. If pro-independence advocates throw their support behind Lee, their voting for the TSU is a reasonable shift," Ng said.
Chen I-shen (陳儀深), a scholar at Academia Sinica and spokesman for the Northern Taiwan Society, shared the viewpoints of Lee Yung-chih.
Chen said that pro-independence associations such as the Taiwan Association of University Professors (
"Besides, some DPP supporters probably won't feel guilty about casting their votes for the TSU since from the very beginning Lee Teng-hui has made clear that his support of the TSU aims to help stabilize the DPP administration," he added.
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RULES BROKEN: The MAC warned Chinese not to say anything that would be harmful to the autonomous status of Taiwan or undermine its sovereignty A Chinese couple accused of disrupting a pro-democracy event in Taipei organized by Hong Kong residents has been deported, the National Immigration Agency said in a statement yesterday afternoon. A Chinese man, surnamed Yao (姚), and his wife were escorted by immigration officials to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, where they boarded a flight to China before noon yesterday, the agency said. The agency said that it had annulled the couple’s entry permits, citing alleged contraventions of the Regulations Governing the Approval of Entry of People of the Mainland Area into the Taiwan Area (大陸地區人民進入台灣地區許可辦法). The couple applied to visit a family member in
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