United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

 

October 3, 2017

 

 Translation of an Excerpt

 

Lai Ching-te has been in office for a little over a month; he exhibited pragmatic popularity as Premier at the beginning. However, this has been reduced by his cavalier narrative on Taiwan independence, which elicited negative political and diplomatic consequences. Nevertheless, Premier Lai seemingly did not sense the necessity for prudence in his words and deeds as a result; instead, after the DPP employed technicalities to dissolve the draft resolution cosponsored by party delegates for pardoning Chen Shui-bian, Lai, in his capacity as Premier, went to visit Chen Shui-bian, and let Cabinet spokesman Hsu Kuo-yung make a statement that “Chen Shui-bian is not malingering.” This approach of indifference to the separation of party and government, and disregard for the big picture, very possibly could quickly wear out public trust, and tear the momentum of his own governance.

 

After taking office, Lai Ching-te quickly won positive comments through the use of hiking pay for civil servants; however, he immediately entered a long itinerary of political calls. Until now, he travels from the north to south visiting Green camp bigwigs; people have inevitably sensed the old ways of civilities, but nothing new. What is even more lamentable is that he deliberately added a visit to Chen Shui-bian in Kaohsiung during his Mid-Autumn Festival itinerary, writing a role for himself in the big drama of "Chen Shui-bian malingering." This is another unwise act following his "Taiwan independence discourse."

 

This "culture of talking and singing" of "saying one thing and doing another" on the part of the DPP is full of calculations and sophistry, arousing resentment. But what is more unsettling is that even when Lai Ching-te blabbed about "advocating Taiwan independence," besides aiding the air of Taiwan independence, rupturing the public’s national identity, it could possibly trigger a series of negative effects detrimental to Taiwan. The fact that Lai Ching-te, at this time, tossed out "Taiwan independence narrative" could very possibly drain the lingering goodwill existing across the Strait, igniting enduring harmful consequences.

 

After taking office, Lai Ching-te won positive comments from society because of his pragmatic image, elevating in the process Tsai Ing-wen's support rating. However, while he has not yet taken action on reviving the economy, Lai’s Taiwan independence narrative and visit to Chen Shui-bian have ignited controversies one after another. Besides undermining President Tsai's planning on cross-Strait relations, he has also weakened the foundation of governance. This is indeed extremely unwise.