Main opposition party candidate Hou Yui says, “Taiwan’s constitution is sacred to national defense.”
Ruling party candidate: “It is a disaster to believe that Taiwan’s constitution is a national patriotic legacy”
As election day approaches, the conflict between pro-China and anti-China ideologies intensifies.
Ten days before Taiwan’s presidential election, controversy is brewing over the candidates’ perceptions of the Constitution of the Republic of China (Taiwan) enacted during the former Kuomintang government led by Jiang Zheng.
On the 3rd, the Taiwan Union Newspaper reported that in a TV debate co-hosted by the media on the 30th of last month, Presidential candidate Lai Ching-de of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party said about the Constitution of the Republic of China, “The reason that Taiwan’s Constitution is regarded as a sacred mountain that protects the country, that is, a sacred mountain to protect the country, is to He said that controversy was erupting as he stated, “It is like a disaster.”
At the time of the debate, Hou Yui, a candidate from the main opposition Kuomintang Party, said, “The Constitution of the Republic of China is a ‘national patriot’ in cross-Strait politics,” and expressed her previous position that the Taiwan Constitution would protect Taiwan from China. When Candidate Hou began his presidential campaign, he defined “Taiwan’s constitution as a sacred mountain for national defense.”
In the past, Hoguksinsan was used in Taiwan to compare Taiwan’s TSMC, the world’s largest foundry (consignment manufacturing) company.
The Constitution of the Republic of China was promulgated by the Kuomintang government on January 1, 1947, and came into effect on December 25 of that year. The Constitution states, “The Republic of China is a democratic republic (Article 1 of the Constitution) based on the ‘Three People’s Principles’ of people’s ownership, people’s rule, and people’s home (Article 1 of the Constitution), and the sovereignty of the Republic of China belongs to all the people (Article 2 of the Constitution). and the territory of the Republic of China shall not be changed without a resolution of the National Assembly according to its unique territory (Article 4).” It is defined as territory including mainland China.
In relation to this, Candidate Lai refuted the view of Taiwan’s constitution as a patriotic mountain, saying, “It is questionable whether it is intended to promote peace or whether it is bringing disaster to Taiwan.”
In other words, as a Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate whose party constitution stipulates separation from China, he emphasized his position that sovereignty cannot be protected by fighting against China using the Taiwanese constitution, which China does not recognize, as a weapon.
Candidate Lai also said, “Peace must rely on ability and not on the good will of the ‘aggressor.’ We can have ideals about peace, but we must not have illusions.” Candidate Hou’s related claims are hypocritical. “It is,” he criticized.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese media, including Yonhap News Agency, strongly criticized candidate Lai’s remarks.
In a commentary, Yonhap Newspaper said, “It is not hypocrisy to refer to the Taiwan Constitution as a sacred mountain for national defense,” and also asked, “Will the Taiwan presidential election be held based on the Democratic Progressive Party’s constitution (which advocates Taiwan’s separation and independence) rather than the Taiwan Constitution?”
In the early stages of the election, each candidate focused on promises such as improving the people’s livelihood, but as the election approaches, they appear to be focusing on the confrontation between pro-China and anti-China ideologies.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.