President Tsai's Praise of Chiang Ching-kuo Creates Noise within Ruling DPP
China Times and United Daily News, January 23, 2022
The opening of the President Chiang Ching-kuo Chi-Hai Cultural Park and the Chiang Ching-kuo Presidential Library on January 22 invited President Tsai Ing-wen to deliver remarks, which lauded that President Chiang's firm stance on protecting Taiwan was undoubtedly the greatest common ground among the people of Taiwan at the present time. President Tsai's statement triggered an implosion within the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, with former Legislator Tuan Yi-kang criticizing her statement for being "baffling” and made Duan “speechless."
The opening ceremony was held yesterday, with not only President Tsai, former President Ma Ying-jeou, and Mayor Ko Wen-je of Taipei on stage, but also Taipei mayoral candidates Legislator Chiang Wan-an and Deputy Mayor Huang Shan-shan in attendance.
President Tsai stated that the information provided by Chiang Ching-kuo Presidential Library would enable all Taiwanese to gain a deeper understanding and make a more impartial assessment, which would help resolve the political differences here in Taiwan. Otherwise, Chiang would always be only a Chiang for some people who remembered the economic development and sense of security he brought with Taiwanese, while others kept the authoritarian system he represented in mind.
According to President Tsai, Taiwan was moving from authoritarianism to democracy, there were many discussions on the historical positioning of Chiang Ching-kuo in Taiwan society, and "the historical positioning of every president should be defined by the people across Taiwan.” Although the time and tide of cross-strait relations has changed considerably, Chiang’s firm stance on "protecting Taiwan" in the face of Beijing's military and political pressure on Taiwan is undoubtedly the greatest common ground among the people of Taiwan at the present time.
However, Tuan posted on Facebook yesterday, "If that was the case, why did we have to push for transitional justice before?” What is the value of the incumbent President who now endorses the then top echelon of the authoritarian rule? Is it a value for the President to do so? "Are we going to endorse Hitler's revival of Germany?”
Chairman Eric Chu of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) questioned the DPP government's chants of unity, pluralism and tolerance which turned out to be hypocritical rhetoric.
Spokesman Chang Szu-kang of the KMT observed that if the DDP seeks to garner votes and solicits support from the fundamentalists of Taiwan independence, it would put Chiang in place for criticism; if it wanted to win the support of the swing voters or the blue camp, it would bring out Chiang for claiming that the DPP would seek reconciliation between the ruling party and the opposition. Those tactics would not help remove the social barriers.
Just one day before the opening of the Chiang Ching-kuo Chi-Hai Cultural Park, the Transitional Justice Commission accused Chiang Ching-kuo of creating the White Terror, while suggesting that the Taipei City Government rechristen the Park.
Ma Ying-jeou asked back, "What were the reasons for name change? The Transitional Justice Commission could suffer brain malfunction.”
Mayor Ko Wen-je of Taipei responded that if the Park were not to be preserved from a historical perspective, “I would be definitely regretful in the future in the capacity of mayor." As the former residence of a celebrity like Chiang Ching-kuo, his former Chi-Hai Residence should be well preserved faithfully, he added.
Ke also said that Chiang Ching-kuo had made contributions to Taiwan, but those who were in power during the authoritarian era also had responsibilities to shoulder. Therefore, it was only necessary to faithfully restore history and make a fair comment. He also affirmed President Tsai's intention not to let the merits and demerits of historical figures provide a rationale for a politically divided Taiwan.
Legislator Chiang Wan-an, grandson of Chiang Ching-kuo, stated that he has always taken the attitude towards two Chiangs that we do "face up to historical facts, restore them, heal the wounds and seek social reconciliation." Many people joined the opening ceremony yesterday, signifying that Chiang Ching-kuo was a president greatly missed by the people of Taiwan and he was also a core facilitator, driving Taiwan's economic development and political democratization fast.
The issues regarding Chiang Kai-shek and his son Chiang Ching-kuo were also debated in the Legislative Yuan yesterday, with the New Power Party (NPP) caucus questioning the cabinet-level Veterans Affairs Council’s (VAA) detailed account of Chiang Ching-kuo's achievements, which was way over the top in NPP’s view. Minister Feng Shih-kuan of the VAA, indicated that ex-servicemen should be incorporated with the common people and that the relevant comments by the Council were not administratively biased. Legislator Ker Chien-ming, whip of the DPP, also stated that there should be mutual respect for history and no more ideology popping up.
In his remarks, Chairman Fredrick Chien of the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange, stated that when asked which president had made the greatest contribution to this country since the Republic of China government relocated to Taiwan in 1949, all public polls showed that Chiang Ching-kuo ranked first and was way ahead of other presidents.
From:
https://udn.com/news/story/6656/6053678
https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20220123000297-260102?chdtv