President Tsai, Don’t Let the Tail of the Taiwanese Independence Faction Wag the Dog

 President Tsai, Don’t Let the Tail of the Taiwanese Independence Faction Wag the Dog

China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

February 1, 2019

 Translation of an Excerpt

Lai Ching-te, the primogenitor of the Taiwan independence faction, originally had the opportunity to become Tsai Ing-wen’s successor, but after the electoral defeat last year, it was not only the setback of Lai Ching-te himself, but also the whole Taiwan independence faction was “seen through” by Taiwan’s society.

Political figures cannot but feel lonely, but the writing of a new constitution as advocated by Lai Ching-te is a 100% non-issue; Taiwan’s predicament does not lie in the Constitution. Under the dual-executive system being practiced now, the vox populi has accepted the popularly-elected President as the one who wields power ex officio, and is held accountable for the final political responsibility. Even if some advocated the cabinet system, or the presidential system, that would be at the level of "amending the Constitution" and not "writing a new constitution."

Writing a new constitution is for Taiwan independence, and Taiwan independence needs to write a new constitution; to the Taiwan independence faction, these are two sides of the same coin. However, when Chen Shui-bian was in power, he said, "I cannot deceive myself, nor can I deceive others; if it cannot be done, then it cannot be done.” In 2016, the DPP controlled the whole government, with all powers concentrated in its hands; why has there not been Taiwan independence, nor the writing of a new constitution?

Going to the bottom, Taiwan independence is not a question of willingness; when in power, the DPP cannot declare Taiwan independence nor can it write a new constitution because as Wang Dan said, “Taiwan independence without bloodshed is empty talk"; Taiwan independence will inevitably lead to a bloody war; this is a self-evident fact. Lai Ching-te, who has lost the stage, is just like Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian, saying one thing while in power and another when out of office, all vying to be the cult leader of the Taiwan independence faction; their goal is to prolong their political influence to prove their existence.

Tsai Ing-wen does not have to worry about the counterattack of the Taiwan independence faction, nor about Lai Ching-te using this opportunity to challenge her for the highest office. The ruling party, in taking the initiative to negate the incumbent President, rejecting Tsai Ing-wen to seek re-election, will end up in total collapse as the only result. No matter how high Lai Ching-te’s support ratings are, he has no legitimacy to challenge Tsai Ing-wen. For this reason, Tsai Ing-wen should not only be able to avoid being hijacked by the Taiwan independence faction, but conversely should "hijack the Taiwan independence faction," with a high-power leadership, never let the "tail of the Taiwan independence faction wag the dog." Don't forget, Tsai Ing-wen was elected under the pledge "to observe the constitutional system of the Republic of China"; if she should dance to Lai Ching-te’s music and loudly echo the writing of a new constitution, wouldn’t it be brazen deception for the highest office of the nation?

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