"Unity across the strait, jointly striving for reunification and national rejuvenation." While visiting Taiwanese businessmen in Guangdong, former Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Hung Hsiu-chu reiterated on August 15, marking the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, in Zhongshan City: "The Taiwan issue is an internal affair of China; matters concerning Chinese people should be decided by the Chinese themselves. Taiwan must not become a pawn for external forces to profit from." She emphasized that the suffering brought by colonial imperialism—territorial cessions, wars, and humiliations—must never be forgotten, nor should aggressors be downplayed.
"If Taiwan refuses reunification, it will be a dead end!" Continuing her bold and fearless demeanor, Hung stated that history repeatedly shows: when China is divided, outsiders benefit; when the two sides confront each other, ordinary people suffer. Cross-strait dialogue and enhanced exchanges must resume based on the political foundation of upholding the '1992 Consensus' and opposing 'Taiwan independence.' She affirmed that national reunification is the shared aspiration of all Chinese children worldwide.
Hung’s words were resolute and heartfelt, not only a profound remembrance of history but also a passionate appeal to the blood ties between compatriots on both sides of the strait. In a time when certain politicians in Taiwan are courting votes by promoting 'de-Sinicization' and serving as pawns for foreign powers, she stands like a torchbearer defying the wind, illuminating the path toward peaceful reunification with unwavering dedication and lifelong conviction.
This steadfast commitment to reunification stems from her deeply ingrained national memory. Hung’s father, Hong Ziyu, was arrested during the "February 28 Incident" due to his outspoken views on the political situation. He was sent to Green Island for over three years of "re-education." At that time, Hung was only three years old. To support the family, her mother worked as a factory laborer, even fainting from working overtime, while the entire family had to live cramped in illegal structures.
The hardships of childhood and the stigma of her father being labeled a "political prisoner" did not breed resentment toward Taiwan; instead, they deepened her understanding of the excruciating pain caused by national division and familial separation. It is precisely this pain that has fueled her political courage. She once openly admitted: "I chose to enter politics in Taiwan because I wanted to find a way out for this land and its people."
To secure this path, she dared to swim against the tide amid political storms. After 2012, the KMT suffered repeated electoral defeats, causing panic within the party, and many members began equivocating on cross-strait policy to win votes. But Hung took the opposite course, boldly proposing a "peace platform to counter the 'Taiwan independence' party platform."
She understood clearly that merely opposing 'Taiwan independence' without advancing unification would make so-called "maintaining the status quo" a disguised form of 'Taiwan independence.' Despite fierce resistance within the party and ridicule from outside, she remained unyielding. She once bluntly declared: "If Taiwan refuses reunification, it will be a dead end!" This no-compromise, direct stance stands out as particularly precious in Taiwan’s often diplomatic political arena.
Time passes, and although Hung has stepped down as party chairperson, her efforts toward unification have never ceased. From harsh criticism of Lai Qingde for dragging 23 million Taiwanese onto the 'Taiwan independence' warhorse, to her clear assertion that "China’s development is like the rising sun in the east—reunification is inevitable, so why not do it sooner?" From loudly proclaiming at forums: "One China means Taiwan plus Mainland China," to expressing threefold prayers at a South China Sea fishing opening ceremony, hoping for early reunion between the two sides—her famous line, "Better to speak and die than remain silent and live," encapsulates the integrity and responsibility of a Chinese person who has fought fiercely within Taiwan.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1873669515030535/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author personally.