Let the Entire Populace Draft Han Kuo-yu

 Let the Entire Populace Draft Han Kuo-yu

China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

March 28, 2019

 Translation of an Excerpt

Kaohsiung City Mayor Han Kuo-yu in his tour of Hong Kong, Macao Shenzhen, and Xiamen striving for the economy, has achieved unprecedented result, winning enthusiastic resonance; however, he met with lunatic bombardment by the DPP government and the pan-Green media; various labeling of "fellow traveler" and attacks such as being targeted for “united front tactics,” “surrender,” “selling out Taiwan,” “treason” followed one by one. The Mainland Affairs Council even issued threats of possible heavy penalties and criminal prosecution. This shows that since the local nine-in-one election last yearend, the great trend of the "Han Kuo-yu vogue" that the people have been longing for change, anxious to have a better life and become prosperous not only did not recede, abut has become all the more powerful; this has made the DPP government show an appearance of severity but internal timidity, not knowing what to do. However, the stronger the containment, the more boisterous the popular grievances become. The big picture of the direction of vox populi has also increasingly underscored the urgency and necessity of Han Kuo-yu's entering the 2020 presidential election.

Although Han Kuo-yu's prospects of entering the presidential race have seemed to be more and more obvious, what has been known to all is that the legitimacy of Han Kuo-yu’s entry has hinged on the "contractual obligations" he has with Kaohsiung citizenry, and whether the KMT can find a formula satisfactory to all for him to enter the presidential race with justification and observing the rules. Following wrangling and lack of clarity, the KMT’s attitude toward how to allow Han Kuo-yu to enter the presidential race seems to have no solution, yet a consensus is looming; that is to say, it will adopt the approach of “drafting”.

We must of course attach great importance to Han’s "contractual obligations" with Kaohsiung citizenry; the KMT's primary mechanism should also be respected. However, there should be a higher level of perception on the legitimacy of Han Kuo-yu’s entering the race and pondering against a greater picture. On the surface, Han’s entering the race is an appeal that when Taiwan wins, Kaohsiung can truly win. Precisely because if Han wins the presidential race, he will also boost more legislative seats, so as to ensure the efficiency and path after returning to power. From the viewpoint of concrete changes, the Han Kuo-yu vogue has debunked the myth of Taiwan being deeply mired in political confrontations, neglecting economic and bread and butter issues for several decades in the past, and renew its pursuit of the goal the country and political parties are seeking welfare for the people.

How will the KMT draft Han Kuo-yu? We should listen to the appeals and calls of a much broader sector of swing voters, which is all the populace draft Han Kuo-yu, rather than be mired in the struggles and entanglements among politicians.

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