Sat, Oct 15, 2022 page2

• Independence groups form alliance

  ENDORSEMENT SCHEME: Enormous campaign expenses have left local politicians susceptible to corruption, a township mayoral candidate told the inauguration event

  • By Jason Pan / Staff reporter
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  Pro-independence political parties and affiliated groups yesterday formed an election alliance through which they seek to endorse candidates who pursue the alliance’s goal: to have the Constitution replaced with a new one that reflects Taiwan’s de facto independence.

  At the alliance’s inauguration in Taipei — organized by Raymond Chuang (莊勝津), a California-based activist — members presented stickers that they said would be used to certify candidates who pursue the goal.

  “We are all brave Taiwanese here and we should have courage to demand that a new Taiwanese nation be built,” Chuang said. “It is time that the ‘Republic of Taiwan’ replaces the Republic of China [ROC].”

  

  Raymond Chuang, center left, and independent candidate Lai Fang-cheng, center right, at an event in Taipei yesterday inaugurate an alliance supporting pro-independence candidates in the Nov. 26 local elections.

  Photo: Jason Pan, Taipei Times

  Candidates endorsed by the alliance would strive for the replacement of the “obsolete” ROC framework, he said.

  “So far no candidates running in next month’s regional elections for the two main parties — the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) — have gained endorsement,” he said.

  This might be because of pressure from within the parties, he added.

  “If some of them have the courage to make a declaration [that they seek to replace the Constitution], we welcome them to join our movement,” Chuang said.

  So far, county councilor candidates from the Taiwan Statebuilding Party and the New Power Party, as well as Lai Fang-cheng (賴芳徵), who is running as an independent in the mayoral race in Chiayi County’s Shueishang Township (水上鄉), have gained endorsement, Chuang said.

  Lai — “a veteran of social movements” — is director of the Taiwan Independence Reformation Association and a former director of the Alliance of Plebiscite for Protecting Taiwan.

  Lai said he is facing a tough race, as the DPP’s and KMT’s mayoral candidates in the township have more resources than him, including campaign trucks, and funds to set up large billboards, print pamphlets, and hire aides and staff to organize rallies and daily canvassing.

  “Standing for election at the local level has made it even more clear that money talks in Taiwanese elections; you need tonnes of it,” he said, adding that this might lead to cash-strapped candidates assuming office, making them susceptible to corruption.

  Before his campaign had even started, he had to deposit NT$120,000 to enter the township mayoral race, Lai said.

  Township mayoral candidates and county councilor candidates often spend “millions of New Taiwan dollars” on their campaigns, he said.

  This sum might rise 10-fold for those running for a seat in the legislature, and 100-fold for those running for city mayor or county commissioner, he added.

  “Most candidates of the major parties, especially outside large cities, need to generate return on their investment so that they can run in the next election,” he said.

  Free Taiwan Party founder Tsay Ting-kuei (蔡丁貴), Free Taiwan Party Chairman Lo Yi (羅宜), Taiwan Independence Party Chairman Peter Ku (古文發), Taiwanese National Party member Ted Lau (劉重義), Taiwanese-American independence advocate John Hsieh (謝鎮寬), Taiwan Republic Office Director Chilly Chen (陳峻涵) and delegates from the Nation-Building Forum and the Taiwan New Constitution Foundation also spoke at the event.
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