"Communicating with [China] is a good thing. But it would be terrible if the condition to do so were that we give up our own dignity and sovereignty." These were the words offered by DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) Legislator Lee Chun-yee (李俊毅) at Taiwan's national legislature in reference to KMT (Kuomintang) Vice President-elect Vincent Siew's (蕭萬長) attendance at this coming weekend's Boao Forum in China. Lee and other DPP politicians were expressing their discomfort with Siew dropping his title as "VP-elect" and his attendance at an event at which it is assumed all participants are in agreement regarding the “one China" policy.
My comments here have little to do with the specifics of what Lee and his colleagues within the "green" party said about Siew's conference participation. Instead, I wish to opine on the general tone of these comments, which I see as unnecessarily aggressive and smelling of spitefulness. DPP caucus whip Yeh Yi-ching (葉宜津) is especially guilty of this undue sniping as she publicly displayed her faith in rumors and conspiracy theories by suggesting that because Siew's name and the national title ("Republic of China") do not appear on the conference website, so it must be that Siew has made "deals with China in return for his participation." Siew is unnecessarily snipish in saying: “Don’t tell me that Siew is representing China.”
Readers of my rants will easily recognize my belief that the KMT is a pack of wolves who are once again in charge of the flock. You, dear reader, will quickly see my distrust for party politicians who have shown little more than bad faith and unrelenting self-interest in pursuit of power at the expense of the people. But hey, in this my first blog topic the target of my criticism is not the evil blues, but the foolish greens.
It is a necessary comment I make here, for I am deeply upset that the DPP, now resuming its position as the "opposition" (aka "minority") party in the legislature and soon in the executive branch as well, will take up the ugly mantle of saboteur that has for the past eight belonged to the blue wolves.
I am heartened that DPP representatives such as outgoing Vice years President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) and losing vice presidential candidate (former Taipei County governor and national premier) Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) have not engaged in undue sniping or false accusations, even as they express their reservations about Siew's participation resulting in a looser Chinese attitude toward Taiwanese "sovereignty."
Elected officials should remember that they are in office to represent the public, not merely their personal or party interests and ideologies. So I am especially pleased to see the more mature and diplomatic character of Su through his encouragement of Siew, while I am slightly less pleased with Lu's limited words of support insofar as she negates them by suggesting that Siew's visit will not benefit China-Taiwan relations.
As for the other DPP officials quoted in a Taipei Times article dealing with this issue (see "Siew Must Defend Status," April 09, 2008, Page 3), I can only say "shame" for your negative sniping. Beware that you do not become snipers and saboteurs dedicated to the destruction of the nation through the blocking of every significant or potentially beneficial move by the governing party. Do not adopt the ugly ways of the evil blues who for the past eight years dedicated themselves to the ruination of the economy for the achievement of this moment, the reclamation of pure power. Do not become the enemy of the people, and most of all never abandon your role as guardians, investigators and purveyors of truth.
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