Taiwan’s Independence: The Challenge for the U.S.-China Competitive Competition and its Struggle with the Taiwan People’s Party
Ko Wen-Je, a third-party candidate on the ballot this year representing the Taiwan People’s Party, has attracted younger voters because of their unhappiness with both the Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, and the KMT.
People on the island are also worried about low wages and the growing cost of living. Some believe the DPP hasn’t paid enough attention to the economy over the past eight years of President Tsai’s administration.
She said that many people think that the party wants independence for Taiwan. “China’s not pushing for independence, but the DPP is pushing back against them.”
Taiwan’s accomplishments were made possible due to decades of stability between the United States and China. But that is rapidly fading away as the two global rivals descend into distrust and competition. Steps being taken by both sides in that deteriorating relationship are threatening Taiwan’s resilience, its ability to innovate and, importantly, the ability of our people to stay united amid this challenge. The real loser in the U.S.-China competition may end up being Taiwan.
Posters of presidential candidates and their running mates can be seen everywhere in Taipei – indeed, throughout the island – on billboards, street lamps and the sides of buildings.
“It’s All DIY,” says Su Chiao-hui, a bright pink vest participant at Taiwan’s reelection rally
Su says that her bright pink vest flatters her skin even if she isn’t wearing any makeup because she looks good in it.
Some supporters are excited. Two groups set off firecrackers for good luck. Others on the street wave politely, or seem not to acknowledge the presence of four large vehicles adorned with photos of Su’s face, having seen it for months leading up to Saturday’s presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan.
As part of their campaigns, legislative and presidential candidates often ride in caravans through their districts, standing on open truck beds to wave to their constituents for hours at a time.
At one reelection rally for a DPP legislator named Su Chiao-hui, volunteers dress in bright green vests and hand out steaming, fresh baoand campaign souvenirs. Other candidates take photos with supporters, and current president Tsai Ing-wen even makes an appearance to show her support.
The Democratic Progressive Party host campaign events that are calmer but still festive. The current DPP Vice President, Lai Ching-te (also known as William Lai) is running to be the island’s new president and is favored to win.
“It’s all DIY,” she tells NPR in Mandarin, adding that she goes to every KMT rally. I hope the K MT is able to work for peace. I do not want independence for Taiwan. I want relations with both the U.S. and China to be good. We’re all one family.”
One woman, who calls herself Ji Dong Jie — or “excited sister” in Mandarin — is clearly a fixture on the rally circuit. She is dressed in a bright red suit, Mylar boas and heels. She is wearing a huge pink hat adorned with two Taiwanese flags as she leads the crowd in an impromptu dance.
Taiwan is Chinese territory – a challenge for Taiwan’s democracy and democracy, and why Taiwan is the “China Kuomintang”
The campaign rallies are very theatrical. Musicians are often hired to score candidate’s stump speeches in real time, so as they reach particularly emotional moments the music swells to intensify the audience reactions.
China has given no indication of budging on its position that Taiwan is Chinese territory. And Hsu admits he doesn’t know the endgame to better relations, only that it’s important to buy time.
Taiwan is a shining example of freedom, democracy and inclusivity. One of the most open societies in the world has the highest percentage of female legislators in Asia, and a government minister who is trans. The global heart of the Semiconductor industry can be traced back to decades of hard work, smart policies and entrepreneurial mind-set, as well as high standards of living.
Su thanked her father and his generation for leaving a better Taiwan, where people can live and speak freely. She said it’s now her responsibility to preserve that freedom and leave Taiwan in an even better place for her children, and for future generations to come.
Among the party priorities Hsu outlined, he also offers another, more symbolic proposal. His party is called the “China Kuomintang,” whichtranslates to “China.” It’s odd to him that in this day and age it’s not called the Taiwan Kuomintang.
“We are dealing with a China very different from [what the] KMT dealt with in the last 30 years,” Hsu said. “We should be cautious and recognize its ambitions,” he said.
Taiwan’s Democratic Party vs. China’s Cold War with Russia: A View from the 5th District of New Taipei City
The truck bed has a group of people standing on it. The people of the New Taipei City’s 5th District were told by the man on the loudspeaker that Su Chiao-hui was here.
“Drop by drop,” election by election, Su says, now 47 years old, that Taiwan has peacefully democratized. Today’s DPP has become an establishment political force. President Tsai Ing-wen has been in power for eight years; her Vice President Lai Ching-te is favored to win Saturday’s election in a close contest.
“We are a party founded under the shadow of a one-party state,” Su said in an interview with NPR. We wanted more freedom and democracy. And we’ve never stopped pursuing that.”
Lai has vowed to continue President Tsai’s agenda on international relations. The daughter of a party elder is running for her third term in office.
China is unconvinced. The government called the Vice President a “separatist” and refused to meet with the President, giving every indication that cross-strait relations would not be allowed to resume under a new administration.
“China has rejected the talks with the DPP,” Su said. “Actually, the DPP would be very happy to engage in reciprocal talks with China.”
Su said the opposition claims that the war with Russia was instigated by Ukraine trying to join NATO. “It’s almost as if they’re saying, Taiwan shouldn’t try to make any friends on the global stage because it could lead to war with China – a narrative that if you vote for the DPP, you’re voting for war.”
Where KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih has cast this election as a choice between war with China (the DPP route) and peace (a vote for him), Su hastens to point out that neither party’s vision for Taiwan is ultimately acceptable to China.
Hsu was an at-large legislator. In Taiwan, citizens vote for both their district’s representative and for a political party; a number of legislative seats are reserved for that at-large vote, and allotted to parties in proportion to their share of the vote. Parties can distribute those seats to their would-be legislators as they see fit.
Taiwan’s President’s Candidate’s Vision Face Off: Anti-Gay Protesters Face Off in the KMT Trade Agreement
The protesters occupied the building for a month in order to bring attention to the KMT trade agreement with China. The movement was led by students.
Hsu supported the protesters by donating server space, through his company at the time. He got into politics because of theSunflower movement, as a government advisor on entrepreneurship and youth policy. But he was later recruited by the very party that the students were protesting — the KMT.
“I’ve noticed you need to be a government employee in order to change the system,” he said. You have to be willing to cross both sides to build that bridge.
Someone with fresh thinking, no political baggage not a second generation of politician is the aim of the KMT. I hesitated because that doesn’t really fit 100% well with my ideology, but I felt, you know, maybe being inside, I can create some chemistry change within this old party.”
Hsu describes himself as among the progressive wing of his party. In fact, his outspoken support of same-sex marriage created a rift between him and more conservative KMT elders.
At the time, anti-gay protesters also made their way down to the Legislative Yuan. He says some even made life-size dolls of him and whipped the dolls as they would an effigy.
Source: As China looms large, two opposing visions face off in Taiwan’s election
Three to Tangle: From the KMT to the Resolving China’s Ambiguities in Cosmic Anti-Cosmic Rays
“It takes three to tango,” he said. I think it’s important for both sides to understand the red line. I think the KMT has been able to thread that line well and also create an ambiguity for both sides to allow room for resistance on both sides.
Taiwan and China are at the moment, meaning there isn’t a satisfying answer to both sides. “We believe that the best way to deal with the situation is to kick the can down the road.”