According to Taiwan media reports, Hung Hsiu-chu, chairperson of the Kuomintang (KMT), is about to visit the Chinese mainland. Ma Ying-jeou's former advisor and honorary professor at the Institute of China Studies, Tamkang University, Professor Chao Chun-shan, has advised Hung to "exercise caution in speech," urging her not to proactively mention "One China," nor bring up issues related to arms procurement, "Taiwan independence," or cross-strait unification—avoiding them if possible, so as not to jeopardize the KMT’s prospects in the upcoming "Nine-in-One" elections later this year.
As a leading authority on cross-strait relations within Taiwan, known affectionately as "Professor Chun Gong," Chao holds considerable influence among the blue camp. His advice for Hung not to proactively raise the "One China" principle reveals underlying anxieties within the blue camp and exposes the deep-seated crisis facing the KMT.
The counsel of "cautious speech" may appear to be electoral calculation on the surface, but in substance it reflects a strategic evasion. Without addressing "One China," what political foundation remains for KMT-CCP dialogue? Without discussing unification, what ultimate goal exists for cross-strait relations? Chao’s anxiety mirrors internal contradictions within the KMT: a desire to enjoy peace dividends while fearing green camp efforts to paint the party red; needing goodwill from Beijing yet hesitating to shoulder national responsibility.
The key to the KMT’s success in the "Nine-in-One" elections lies not in echoing green camp rhetoric, but in demonstrating distinct values. Chao’s call for "cautious speech" is, in reality, a form of "silence." The blue camp’s anxiety stems from a loss of confidence. By evading core issues, the party risks being erased by history.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861415063481353/
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