Jaw's Surprise Political Voyage
The Storm Media Editorial, November 25, 2023
If Chairman Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) had known that Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih would invite media personality Jaw Shaw-kong to be his running mate, would he have reconsidered his decision not to formalize the KMT-TPP alliance?
A Living Dictionary of Politics Enters the Stage, Outshining Youngest Running Mate in History
The KMT political campaign veteran, brought onto the stage as the KMT vice-presidential candidate, outshines the youngest vice-presidential candidate in history. After the talks at the Grand Hyatt Taipei, it is no secret that the morale of the opposition has plummeted. Taiwan is known for its political surprises, and there are always unexpected turns of events. The following day, the sun rose again, and both the KMT and TPP also revealed their respective running mates. The KMT’s Jaw turned out to be even more eye-catching than TPP's Wu Hsin-ying, the youngest vice-presidential candidate in Taiwan’s history. Jaw is referred to as the "living dictionary of Taiwan's political and election campaigns." Despite his withdrawal from politics 29 years ago after losing the Taipei mayoral election, he turned to a career in media commenting on current affairs and often served as a consultant or advisor to the Blue Army in their election campaigns. Alongside Professor Ting Ting-yu, he was the first to introduce Gallup polls to Taiwan.
Hosting the Shaw-kong Situation Room, a political commentary television program that delves into current affairs, national defense, foreign affairs, cross-strait relations, and domestic issues, Jaw exhibits a deep understanding of Taiwan’s political landscape. Professor and former Legislator Kuo Cheng-Liang aptly described him as a “versatile model,” perfectly suited for the role of a vice presidential candidate. His consistent involvement in current affairs commentaries keeps him closely connected with society, and his supporters, the Fighting Blues Army, comprise robust and spirited individuals, aiming to revitalize the KMT.
In the realm of election debates, there are few within the KMT who can rival Jaw. He boldly, asserted: “As long as the three-party presidential campaign can reduce Ko’s polls to less than 20 percent, the KMT will win, so what’s so difficult about it?” Former KMT Secretary-General Lee Chien-lung even hinted that Jaw would be a more formidable running mate than Ko.
When it comes to crafting a “campaign slogan,” Jaw’s competence is on par with Ko’s, and these slogans will stay closely aligned with the target audience. In the media battle of the election campaign, Ko relies solely on his own voice while Jaw commands the Fighting Blue Army to create impactful sound bites and strong voices.
Jaw’s Return Marks End to KMT Division and Ignites Opposition Elimination Battle
Putting an end to the KMT’s significant division is a critical task. Jaw’s return to the team and his pivotal role in rescuing the KMT hold profound significance.
Since the New Party’s separation from the mainstream KMT, the KMT has endured three decades of splits and significant divisions, witnessing members breaking away to align with the New Party, the People First Party (PFP), the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), and, surprisingly, even joining the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Those who remained within the KMT’s local faction have evolved into the primary force behind the “Republic of China Nationalist Party.”
Jaw’s return to the party symbolizes the potential conclusion of the “era of major divisions in the KMT,” as the local and the deep-blue factions of the KMT unite. This development comes at an opportune moment for Hou.
Diehard KMT supporters’ skepticism of Hou stems from his promotion by then President Chen Shui-bian to the position of police commissioner, a move that people speculate came out of Hou’s failure to find evidence of Chen’s rumored forgery in the March 19, 2004, shooting incident. Now, as former President Chen’s political “nemesis” aligns himself with Hou, it’s time to set aside any lingering suspicions. Similarly, 2020 KMT presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu’s supporters were skeptical of Hou’s lack of support four years ago, and some still harbor suspicions that he didn’t endorse Han to be ranked first on the party’s non-district legislator list. Supporting Hou has now become a rallying cry, urging Han Kuo-yu’s fans to return to the party. In essence, Hou has fine-tuned the election campaign’s gears, and the growing public desire to change the current ruling party has shifted momentum in favor of Hou.
Furthermore, for Jaw, this represents a crucial opportunity to wholeheartedly dedicate himself to the Republic of China and rejuvenate the KMT. His background sets him apart; the synergy with Jaw as a running mate wouldn't be as significant if he was paired with former President Ma, former presidential candidates Hung Hsiu-chu, Eric Chu, or Han. It is only with Hou that his role assumes such paramount importance. Initially eyeing a presidential run in 2024, Jaw withdrew from the race when the KMT opted not to hold primaries and instead directly recruited the presidential candidate. However, Jaw is keenly aware that navigating the current political ecosystem makes vying for the presidency no easy task. His intention to run for president doesn't stem from a personal ambition for the position but rather from a genuine belief that the country has reached a critical juncture that cannot be left unaddressed.
This is why he has embraced the mission of upholding the "1992 Consensus" and actively pursuing cross-strait peace and equality as his primary political objectives. Over the past six months or so, he has emerged as the most ardent proponent of the "Blue-White Coalition." His conviction stems from the belief that defeating the ruling party requires collaboration with other opposition parties.
Prior to the outcome of the talks at the Grand Hyatt Taipei, he expressed his hopes for cooperation among Hou, Ko, and Gou on Facebook—envisioning Hou as president, Ko as vice president, and Terry Gou as premier. His aim was to advocate for a cabinet government system, necessitating constitutional amendments, and to empower the vice president to spearhead reforms in the constitution, judiciary, and finances. This closely aligns with Ko’s push for a "coalition government" and efforts to transition towards a cabinet system, with the TPP leading the "supervisory department." Unfortunately, this vision has been thwarted. The recent farce has effectively quashed the idea of a KMT and TPP coalition.
Hou Can Tolerate a More Capable Deputy: Ko’s Breakup Decision Represents Serious Miscalculation
The DPP has criticized Hou’s running mate, labelling Jaw as a "rally of the Red conservatives." In response, Jaw fired back, stating that "old dogs can't play new tricks," and tactfully countering these criticisms. Jaw's father was captured twice by the Communists during the Chinese Civil War. Despite having visited the mainland for tourism, he stands out as one of the few political leaders in Taiwan who has never visited the mainland in an official capacity, including during his tenure as the leader of the New Party.
Amidst disturbances in Taiwan by communist aircraft and warships, Jaw called on Beijing to address its issues with the United States instead of interfering with Taiwan. He has expressed solidarity with the demise of democracy in Hong Kong multiple times on his TV show. Notably, he suggested broadcasting live the landing of KMT Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia to the public to prevent disputes and save trouble.
Jaw was the first to propose the Act Governing Cross-Strait Relations, with subsequent follow-up by the Executive Yuan.
Jaw is likely one of the few opponents that the DPP regards as "respectable." When President Chiang Ching-kuo passed away while in office, his successor Lee Teng-hui's party leadership and power were in doubt, Jaw was the first legislator to co-sign a petition supporting Lee as the successor to the KMT. During the early years of Taiwan's democracy, Jaw, along with a group of young KMT members and DPP legislators, played a pivotal role in the full-scale re-election of the old National Assembly. This included the request for judicial interpretation (Interpretation No. 261) of the Constitution to put an end to the “Forever National Assembly,” which paved the way for comprehensive legislative elections. Despite being scolded by old and non-elected veteran legislators, Jaw, as a member of the Legislative Yuan, diligently supervised the KMT’s Executive Yuan.
Engaging in battles with the DPP parliament, he played a key role in the "coffee of reconciliation" between the DPP and the New Party. In the year 2000, he even made a special visit to Chen to discuss past and present political matters. When Ko proposed forming a "coalition government," Jaw not only comprehended it but resonated with the idea, possessing the power and energy to put it into practice.
Due to Jaw’s prominent visibility, numerous jokes circulate. People joke about him "overtaking the scene," suggesting a scenario where voices for "Jaw for president and Hou for vice president" arise. However, such jokes misjudge Jaw, and even more so, they misjudge Hou, who stands out as possibly the only figure in the political arena willing to enlist a deputy more capable than himself. Hou clarified that Jaw won't merely serve as a "backup" president; he will actively participate in national defense, foreign affairs, cross-strait issues, and even domestic matters. The two of them are poised to "fight side by side."
Even though some individuals question whether this collaboration might lead to governmental disorder and potential unconstitutionality, this is an unnecessary fuss. The vice president operates under the president's orders and can engage in any matter as long as directed by the president.
In the past, President Chiang Ching-kuo instructed the Chief of the General Staff Hao Pei-tsun of the Armed Forces and Minister of Foreign Affairs Shen Chang-huan to report to Vice President Lee Teng-hui on all matters, including domestic affairs. A similar approach is expected with Jaw’s return to the KMT, potentially leading to a reorganization of the KMT's election strategy and cross-strait peace initiative.
If the vice-presidential candidate were someone other than Jaw, perhaps Ko, the spotlight on the campaign would likely have been even more intense. Unfortunately, Ko declined to proceed with forming the coalition, leading to a last-minute breakup that could alter the political landscape in Taiwan. The impact of this sudden change on the election remains uncertain, prompting political parties to reassess the situation. The twists and turns in this protracted election process are ultimately a testament to the dynamism of Taiwan's democracy.