"You Are the President, Don’t Divide But Unify Us"

 "You Are the President, Don’t Divide But Unify Us"

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

October 22, 2017

 Translation of an Excerpt

After being in office for over a year, President Tsai has finally found that to unity the country is the unshirkable duty of a President. During this year's National Day message, she first applauded the three former popularly-elected Presidents and the contributions of the preceding administrations, and then invited the leaders of all opposition parties to sit down for talks. Tsai Ing-wen used "a united Taiwan" as a clarion call; the KMT up to now can hardly reject immediately. However, whether the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties talk about "safeguarding freedom and democracy " or talk about "actively seeking a new status in the international community,” all point to, in our opinion, the fact that the DPP's government spearheaded the undermining of democratic politics and muddling national identity, and this is precisely the crux of whether Tsai Ying-wen can unify Taiwan.

The DPP is now in full control of the government; however, it rules the nation with no direction and handles affairs of state without plans. As the will of the party repeatedly lords over popular will, the result is that internally conflicts abound with frequent set-backs in diplomacy, while submitting an incomplete answer sheet in cross-Strait affairs, and witnessing retrogression in international appraisal rankings. The young literati’s slogans can no longer whitewash that all is well; Tsai Ying-wen seems to have finally understood that she must allow the ruling and opposition parties to talk about affairs of state, otherwise, if we sit idly by surrounded by worries, then we will lose not only the reputation of one political party and one person, but the future of the whole country.

As President Tsai said during her inaugural, "The President should unify not only supporters, but the whole country"; however, this was in actuality a usual cliché.  The Tsai government completely walked in the opposite direction; it not only could not achieve internal reconciliation, but conversely created confrontations. This government has all along lacked the capability and good faith in communication and coordination; thus we see only the obstinacy of the ruling administration and high-handed tactics of warped democracy. On what basis could such an arrogant ruling party demand that opposition parties the cash rubber check of “solidarity”?

This government is fond of talking about "pragmatism" recently; however, to be "pragmatic," it first of all has to admit mistakes and wholeheartedly face the predicament of the Republic of China. Tsai Ying-wen talks about the constitutional reform and refers to solidarity, which are, we are afraid, but political tactics for shifting the focus and will eventually be seen through by the public. 

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