Was Lin Ching-yi Speaking Out the True Position of the Tsai Ing-wen Camp?

 Was Lin Ching-yi Speaking Out the True Position of the Tsai Ing-wen Camp?

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

January 5, 2020

 Translation of an Excerpt

Lin Ching-yi, a spokesperson for the Tsai Ing-wen campaign office, granted an exclusive interview to the Voice of Germany, indicating that advocating reunification could possibly constitute an act of treason. Lin Ching-yi is a legislator, director of the DPP's Department of International Affairs, and even spokesperson for the Tsai Ing-wen camp. Her remarks elicited wide suspicions about the Tsai government and the DPP. So far as the Constitution of the Republic of China is concerned, her remarks are indeed unconstitutional or even an advocacy for treason.

The Constitution of the Republic of China, as well as the Additional Articles enacted specifically "to cope with the needs of the country prior to national reunification," is a veritable Constitution of reunification. From the Taiwan independence party platform on which the DPP insists to the remarks of Lin Ching-yi that "China and Taiwan are two completely different states" are both unconstitutional.

Does Lin Ching-yi’s statement reflect Tsai Ing-wen's perception of the government of the Republic of China and her interpretation of the history of the Republic of China? Tsai Ing-wen once said that the Republic of China was a "government in exile," but she has not played the same tune since coming to office. When Tsai Ing-wen pledged at the time of electoral victory four years ago: "As long as I am president, nobody needs to apologize for his or her national identity." However, her term of office as president has not yet ended, and people are being threatened that they could be punished on charges of treason for advocating reunification.

Although Lin Ching-yi immediately resigned as spokesperson, Tsai Ing-wen still must completely clarify the DPP position in view of external concerns. Otherwise, the armed forces’ protecting national security, and Cheng Nan-jung’s defending the freedom of speech, both are defending Taiwan’s democratic system, but Taiwan, nevertheless, moves step by step towards a new authoritarian dictatorship. How ironic it is!

Attachment : none