Besides Demands to "Clear Evil Ministers," Problems with "Ruler" Should Also Be Considered
United Daily News Editorial, December 2, 2022
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) suffered a heavy blow in the local elections, and many DPP members are asking to “clear evil ministers around the ruler” by getting rid of her close aides, cyber-army, and members of the party’s Central Standing Committee with criminal gang backgrounds. However, to get to the bottom of the government’s lack of performance, we need to clarify first if the biggest problem lies in the inner circle or the president herself? After observing the DPP’s attitude after the elections, we still see chaos within the government and people jostling for position and power within the party. President Tsai Ing-wen is still calling the shots despite her resignation as party chairwoman. Have we seen any sigh of introspection yet?
Deputy Minister Lee Wen-chung of the Veterans Affairs Council recently criticized his own party, the DPP, for being “too arrogant” and losing the people’s perspective. Lee said that the DPP has central standing members with underworld or vote-buying background and dare to criticize the opposition parties for that. Furthermore, the DPP has been using the “resist China to protect Taiwan” tactic to appeal to young voters, yet the decision to change the conscription system is too hasty. These two things cannot win the trust of the people. Lee is a politician who often speaks his mind. He must have seen the corrosion of “party preservative (principle)” and decided to criticize the President directly.
Lee is not alone. DPP Legislators Ho Chih-wei, Kao Chia-yu, and Lin Shu-fen have also criticized respectively that “the gangsters have joined the inner circle;” “cyber army is rampaging everywhere;” and “cyber army has destroyed the democratic checks and balances.” These problems have caused a loss of swing voters and a chilling effect within the DPP. Ironically, these people who spoke their minds have been under attack from all directions in the DPP. Legislator Ho was called “scum” by pro-Tsai operator Hung Yao-fu and was even branded a “war criminal” during a lunch meeting in the President’s residence. Similarly, Legislator Kao was called “traitor” and was asked by Taipei City Councilor Lee Chien-chang to quit the DPP.
The above phenomenon showed a sign of “hundreds of opinions voiced,” yet it was quickly overwhelmed by “partisan assaults,” any further attempt to introspect came to a halt. What remains is a deadly silence as every faction is waiting for a power reshuffle. In the past, the DPP was never shy from factional fighting, as it also gave the party an impetus for improvement. However, since Tsai became the DPP chairwoman in 2008, the DPP has lost its “opposition wolf instinct” and became “submissive and servile” after 14 years of “domestication”. As a result, the DPP follows President Tsai’s every command. Tsai’s presidential authority and her faction’s ability to win elections have completely changed the DNA of the DPP, resulting in subverted value and neutered democratic principles. Under the rampage of cyber army, the DPP has made erroneous judgements in picking a fight with National Taiwan University over thesis plagiarism, confronting Tzu Chi Foundation over the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine procurement, blocking the import of vaccines, and using gangsters to rule the country. “Green in government is quality assurance” has become a remote fairy tale. Instead, “Green can but you can’t” is the new (double) standard.
Over a week has passed since President Tsai’s resignation from her position as party chair, yet the following chess game has been in the palm of her hand. For example, the appointment of Tsai-faction Chen Chi-mai as interim chairman, the recruitment of Enoch Wu to run for legislator by-election in Taipei, the appointment of Cheng Wen-tsan as convener for the “election review committee”, and the removal of party faction as a subject for review, etc., are all decided by her. Under the circumstances, President Tsai has become the “grand chairperson” whose only aim is to protect the interests of her faction. Is there any room left for DPP’s honest review?
Due to this cover-up atmosphere, the cabinet of Premier Su Tseng-chang, who was dissuaded from resigning, continues to cause controversy as it was before. For example, Chiu Chang-hsin, brother of the DPP Legislator Chiu Yi-ying, who was indicted in the cigarette smuggling case was recently promoted to director of Joint Control Department of China Airlines. Furthermore, Minister of Agriculture Chen Chi-Chung once vowed to provide “grouper lunch” to every class of elementary and junior high school but repeatedly failed to deliver. He has gone back on his words and said instead to provide “good lunch” to every class. The most ridiculous blunder was that the Chinese Cooking Test of the National High School Skills Competition 2022 used the same test as the previous year due to “someone grabbing the wrong file”. How can a government that made a big mistake and found no one responsible earn the trust of the people?
Someone wrote a comic verse on the Internet to mock Tsai’s four protectors. It uses homophones and synonyms to satirize President Tsai’s inner circle. Although there is voice of self-criticism within the DPP, yet under the thinking of consolidating the leadership, the so-called “cleanse the inner circle” is just an empty gesture. Honest opinion continues to fall on deaf ears, while bearer of honest advice hardly escapes criticism or expulsion. If President Tsai has no intention to change or conduct self-examination, how can the DPP take the path of transformation?