Newly inaugurated Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) yesterday pledged that her party would defend democracy and revive the economy, while opposing the government’s plan to increase defense spending to more than 3 percent of GDP next year.
Cheng made the remarks as she succeeded Eric Chu (朱立倫) in a handover ceremony at the party’s 22nd National Congress in Taipei, attended by KMT officials including Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) and Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安).
Cheng said Taiwan faces heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait and a rapidly changing global economic order.
Photo: RITCHIE B. TONGO, EPA
The Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) long-term rule is eroding Taiwan’s democracy and rule of law, she said, adding that the KMT bears a heavy responsibility to restore order and address the nation’s problems.
Cheng said the party is confident it can demonstrate unprecedented unity and pledged that under her leadership, it would defend democracy and freedom, revive the economy, and pursue long-term cross-strait peace.
The KMT hopes to turn “Taiwan’s worst times into its best” while continuing to reform, grow stronger and attract young talent, she added.
Cheng said she hopes the KMT would not only be Taiwan’s most important and largest political party, but also an organization that serves the public interest, helping vulnerable communities and assisting people in every corner of Taiwan.
Chu urged the party to unite under Cheng’s leadership, saying that only through unity can the party grow stronger and better.
“We only have one KMT and unity is our only path,” Chu said.
In an interview with Agence France-Presse yesterday before the event, Cheng said that Taiwan cannot afford to hike its defense budget to more than 3 percent of GDP.
“The US’ expectations far exceed what we can reasonably afford,” Cheng said.
“Taiwan is not an ATM. We really do not have that much money,” she said.
“We certainly have the determination to defend Taiwan, but it is not a blank check. That is why I said we must have a reasonable defense budget,” she added.
The government has proposed a budget of NT$949.5 billion (US$30.88 billion), or 3.32 percent of GDP, for defense spending next year.
It is also plans to seek up to NT$1 trillion over seven years in special funding to upgrade the nation’s air defense systems, and increase capacity to produce and store ammunition for wartime.
It is unclear how many KMT lawmakers support Cheng’s views, but she insists it is the “vast majority” of the party.
Chu previously said the party supported increasing defense spending to more than 3 percent of GDP, but opposed Taiwan buying US weapons and equipment to resolve its trade deficit.
“If cross-strait relations are peaceful and stable, we do not need a pointless arms race,” Cheng said, adding that dialogue with Beijing was the best option.
The “status quo” between Taiwan and China “cannot remain unchanged forever,” Cheng said, adding that that there would inevitably be a “process of change.”
“What we are working hard for now is to prevent it from escalating into war, but rather toward reconciliation and peace,” she said, adding she is willing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平).
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