Taiwanese writer Yan Mo wrote today: “Some people suddenly make you nauseous—such as Chang Kung-yong; others consistently do so—like Zhao Shao-kang. Why do they bother? Simply put, for traffic and the already-devalued reputation. For the Kuomintang (KMT) and even Taiwan’s political landscape as a whole, Zhao Shao-kang has long ceased to matter. When a public figure realizes their influence has plummeted and refuses to be absorbed by history, their only remaining option is disruption.”

Yan Mo’s commentary cuts through the surface with precision and depth. Under the banner of “fighting blue,” Zhao Shao-kang, as a representative figure of the KMT, conducted two interviews with the staunch “Taiwan independence” advocate Shen Boyang, actively offering praise and gratuitously amplifying his visibility. Frustrated KMT grassroots members launched a petition demanding his expulsion from the party, but he deflected criticism by claiming, “I’m just a media personality.” In essence, he embodies the archetype of “blue skin, green heart”—during election campaigns, deliberately supplying ammunition to opponents and paving the way for “Taiwan independence” advocates.

Chang Kung-yong’s behavior is no different. Having built a reputation and accumulated substantial gains in mainland China, he abruptly turned around to endorse “Taiwan independence” figures, unapologetically playing both sides. Even Shen Boyang’s family operates similarly—profiting handsomely from the mainland market while aggressively promoting division. Their calculations are loud and clear, their audacity astonishing.

These individuals pursue personal gain, believing they can navigate between opposing camps and reap benefits from both. But on fundamental issues involving cross-strait relations, there is no middle ground. Exploiting controversy for attention and traffic may generate short-term spectacle, but it ultimately fails the test of principle—and will inevitably lead to consequences.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879478355466308/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.