Source: Global Times
[Global Times Special Correspondent Cheng Dong] July 30 was two years after Lee Teng-hui died of illness. Kuomintang Chairman Zhu Lilun re-evaluated Lee Teng-hui, which caused huge controversy within the blue camp.
strong internal rebound
According to Taiwan's United Daily News on July 31, Zhu Lilun posted on Facebook early on July 30 that he met with the Japanese delegation on the evening of July 29. During the meal, the two sides talked about the "political achievements" of four former Kuomintang leaders from the Taiwan region, including "the democratic Taiwan promoted by Lee Teng-hui during the period." The article said, "This is the first time since Zhu Lilun returned to the party chairman, he has evaluated Lee Teng-hui for 'promoting democratic Taiwan'." The newspaper reported that Zhu Lilun elaborated on Japan at the China Standing Committee meeting last Wednesday, emphasizing that the Kuomintang should be very pragmatic and "knowing Japan and being friendly to Japan" and should not fall into the past anti-Japanese and anti-Japanese complex. This is definitely not the current position of the Kuomintang. Party analysts believe that Zhu Lilun’s friendship with Japan is also reflected in his historical evaluation of Lee Teng-hui.
KMT Central Committee believes that Taiwan society has different opinions on Lee Teng-hui and it is difficult to easily conclude that it is difficult to make a conclusion, and it should adopt an open attitude to rethink historical merits and demerits. Lin Jiaxing, director of the Kuomintang History Museum, said that Lee Teng-hui took over Taiwan after the "relieving the strictness" of Chiang Ching-kuo and his death. He served as the chairman of the Kuomintang and the leader of Taiwan for a total of 12 years. "Those 12 years were the golden period of Taiwan's democratization and economic development."
The above view was in an uproar within the Kuomintang, questioning that the election was imminent, "Do you need to restore Lee Teng-hui's reputation first?" Ma Ying-jeou directly shouted to Zhu Lilun "do more serious business." Former Kuomintang chairman Hung Hsiu-chu said that what Lee Teng-hui left to the Kuomintang was value confusion, and what he left to Taiwan was "black gold" politics, and he did not know what commemorative value it had to the Kuomintang. Zhao Shaokang, chairman of "China Guangxi", also said that Lee Teng-hui's merits and demerits are very clear, and he does not know what the Party Central Committee is about to re-evaluate Lee Teng-hui.
Faced with controversy, Zhu Lilun responded on July 31 that the Kuomintang is facing many challenges now, "We are also overcoming these challenges, but we are all right." He said that "the Kuomintang loves Taiwan the most", and every stage is very important, from Mr. Chiang Ching-kuo's "building Taiwan" and promoting Taiwan's democratization, to Lee Teng-hui's "democratic Taiwan" to Ma Ying-jeou's "promoting cross-strait peace and peaceful Taiwan".
A series of "problem statements"
Since this year, Zhu Lilun's statements on a series of issues have triggered debate within the Kuomintang. First, when he visited the United States in June, he claimed that the Kuomintang was pro-US, and said that " 1992 Consensus is a consensus without consensus." He was questioned to change the balanced strategy of "1992 Consensus" and "pro-US, friendship, Japan and China" that Ma Ying-jeou insisted, which triggered conflicts in Taiwan's social and political parties' lines and disputes in unification and "independence" lines. Some pan-blue supporters believe that he went to the United States and said that he was pro-US, just like playing against the DPP for pro-US. Not only did he not add points to US relations, but he lost points in cross-strait relations.
7 Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated in July, Tsai Ing-wen announced that was lowered in half-mast , and the Kuomintang Central Committee immediately announced that it would follow up and lower in half-mast. Liu Donglong, a judge of the Kuomintang, bluntly stated that the Kuomintang Central Party Committee really does not need to lower the flag at half-street, and it is not a public agency, so there is no need to cooperate. The basic position should still be maintained, "lowing the flag at half-street is too abrupt." Zhao Shaokang said that the Kuomintang does not need to object, but it really does not need to follow the DPP authorities. Doing so is "speculative, ignorant, without self-esteem, and losing its independent position." He further pointed out that Japan did not apologize or reflect on the war of aggression against China. Abe stepped down and went to the Yasukuni Shrine, and did not apologize or compensate Taiwan's "comfort women". "What is the Kuomintang lowering the flag? It has lost its independent position." After this article was published, it quickly received about 10,000 likes, and the response was enthusiastic. Some netizens on the island said, "The Kuomintang has become a four-dimensional person now", and some people questioned, "What is the subjective consciousness of the Kuomintang? Zhu Lilun should think carefully."
"Into an embarrassing dilemma"
Associate Professor Liu Jincai of the Department of Public Affairs of Foguang University wrote an article saying that Zhu Lilun proposed the "pro-US and anti-communist" line, not only the outside world questioned the Kuomintang's retreat from the "1992 Consensus", but also questioned that he was "greenized" by the Democratic Progressive Party, thus losing its autonomy on the international and cross-strait lines.In particular, Zhu Lilun mentioned that the Kuomintang has always been a "pro-American party" and has never been a "pro-China party", and it also talks about issues such as the conscription system and arms. Tsai Ing-wen and "Premier" Su Zhenchang never said these words to please the United States, but Zhu Lilun said them all based on political calculations. The article suggests that the Kuomintang should do more practical things on cross-strait issues and not just say empty words for kitsch voters, so that it can regain the dominance of cross-strait relations in Taiwan.
Taiwan United News Network said on July 31 that Zhu Lilun intends to re-evaluate Lee Teng-hui, with the purpose of this, may be to solve the heavy historical burden, but the most important thing at the moment is local elections. Winning the political map of county and city leaders is even more important. Once the direction is wrong, it may only increase the troubles of party candidates. "I want to get out of the quagmire of the past, but I am in trouble." The United Daily News commented on July 31 that the Kuomintang expelled Lee Teng-hui from the party. Lee Teng-hui advocated "Taiwan independence" when he organized the "Taiwan League Party". If the Kuomintang intends to re-evaluate it, it is a major matter. It is like visiting the US business and lowering the flag halfway, which cannot be determined by discussion within the circle. A person from the Kuomintang described that the Kuomintang cannot want all votes, and in the end, they will lose all votes. At the end of the article, Zhu Lilun wanted to get out of the quagmire of history and strive for the line of centrist voters, but "but he also fell into an embarrassing dilemma between his imbalance in his posture and decision-making."
