Applause May Please the Ear, But Only by Attracting Boos Can It Become Even Stronger

 Applause May Please the Ear, But Only by Attracting Boos Can It Become Even Stronger

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

June 16, 2019

Translation of an Excerpt

In the KMT’s primary, Han Kuo-yu and Terry Guo are neck and neck with their support ratings being mired in stagnation. To this situation, Blue camp supporters feel deep anxiety, believing that if Han and Guo could not maintain a comportment of gentlemen in their rivalry, the result of mutual injury would inevitably benefit a third party, yielding the highest office of the land to either Tsai Ing-wen or Ko Wen-je. During the last month of the decisive battle of the primary, the two camps must restrain their respective hordes, never adopting attacking activities of a destructive nature.

On June 15^th, during Han Kuo-yu’s pep rally in Yunlin, continuing the strength of enthusiasm in the two preceding events, the aura and force were formidable, showing that the momentum galvanized on the initiative of his grassroots supporters far exceeded the mobilization of the Party Central. Despite the success of the pep rallies, there are misgivings in the electoral prospects of Han Kuo-yu: his support ratings in the latest opinion polls have shown stagnation or even a trend of slight decline.

There are several main reasons for the phenomenon of weakening in Han Kuo-yu’s support ratings: First, the prospective candidates in both the ruling and opposition parties have targeted him as the number one imaginary foe for attack with various forms of mud-slinging at once; the DPP even abuses the public authority in its hands, ambushing him from the central to localities, making him face the enemy from the front and the rear. Secondly, Han Kuo-yu himself’s preparation is not yet well-rounded; he up to now has not yet organized a heavyweight brain trust, so much so showing a tardiness in coping with Hong Kong’s anti-deportation demonstrations, as well as the Kaohsiung free economic zone proposal, causing doubts on his vista of national governance on the part of the outside world. Third, the heightened loyalty of Han fans as well as the excessive exclusiveness of pro-Han media outlets not only crowded out the outside world’s well-intended criticisms, even leading to hostile attitudes between Blue camp media outlets of differing stances, which are not conducive to the expansion of the scope supporting him.

Terry Guo’s prospects, after an earlier surge, have won affirmation; however, his prospects subsequently also became mired in stagnation. The main reasons include the following: First, Terry Guo entered the race in quite a rush; although he had announced his retirement from his business empire, the general public still have quite some misgivings vis-à-vis how he would take care of his business and national governance. Second, Foxconn has wide and deep deployment of investments in Mainland China, employing nearly one million workers. The outside world is concerned that it would be difficult for Terry Guo to have sufficient autonomous will when facing the Mainland. Third, it is not difficult to convince the elite stratum of Terry Guo's business experience and expertise; however, his image as the richest man in Taiwan makes the general public respect in awe. The man in the street feels closer to the grassroots atmospherics in Han Kuo-yu’s rallies, the crux of the matter being precisely wealth.

If Han Kuo-yu and Terry Guo can honestly face their strong suits and shortcomings, they should understand that the duel must maintain room for mutual cooperation in the future, which is the only way for the Blue camp to win next year’s electoral battle. The convergence of the two men’s cooperation is the following: Han Kuo-yu’s connecting with the grassroots has been tested several times, and no one in Taiwan can match him; Terry Guo’s international experience and vista of business management are indispensable resources for Taiwan striving for the economy. No matter who wins out in the primary, the other should unconditionally join his team, complementing each other’s momentum, making it stronger and stronger.

For political figures, applause indeed pleases the ear, but only by being able to attract and absorb the awakening and spurring hidden in the boos can make oneself stronger and stronger.

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