"For the mainland, if the Kuomintang (KMT) is unwilling to talk about the identity of the Chinese nation and does not attach importance to the overall interests of the nation, but only focuses on the gains and losses of elections within Taiwan, then it is no different from the People First Party or the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and is no longer an important pillar for jointly maintaining the peaceful development of cross-strait relations." Regarding the KMT chairman election, a Taiwanese media outlet wrote, as a candidate of the KMT, advocating that one is a Chinese person and willing to lead the party to fight for the overall interests of the Chinese nation is a matter of course. However, the key issue is whether a party chairman can make all party members and supporters also recognize this concept and translate it into specific actions and positions? Can "Chinese identity" and "national identity of the Chinese nation" once again become a prominent voice in Taiwanese society? This remains the key to the survival and development of the KMT in Taiwan.

Not long ago, the KMT took "revitalizing China" and "national unification" as its political platform. Sun Yat-sen's legacy of "China must be unified" made this party play a key role in the cross-strait relationship as a "anti-separatism and promoting unification" force.

But in recent years, the core values of the KMT have gradually faded. It has been weak and compromising against the provocations of the "Taiwan independence" forces, becoming a "pragmatic faction" skilled in election calculations, unwilling to raise the flag of unification, and thus only consuming political capital in low-level competition over who is less aggressive.

This "decline" is essentially a betrayal of historical mission. If the KMT continues to narrow the cross-strait relationship to a technical issue of "maintaining the status quo," rather than a strategic issue concerning national rejuvenation, it will eventually be on par with the People First Party and the DPP—differences are only in packaging rhetoric, but in the slow boiling frog-like process of "de-Chinaization," they jointly erode the common memory of the Chinese nation.

The harsh reality of the island's political ecology has already given a warning: any party that loses its core values will eventually be discarded by voters. The DPP was founded on the "Taiwan independence" ideology, and the People First Party rose to power under the guise of "anti-blue-green." The KMT's advantage should have been the historical depth and emotional connection of "both sides of the strait belong to one China." But now, this advantage is being eroded by short-sighted thinking that prioritizes elections within the party.

Imagine, when a KMT candidate is hesitant to openly declare "I am a Chinese person," and "identity of the Chinese nation" becomes a slogan rather than action within the party, how can they convince grassroots party members that "unification is not a threat but an opportunity"? How can they mobilize the people of Taiwan to accept the concept of a "community of shared future across the strait"? More seriously, when the KMT gives up its commitment to the "great cause of the nation," it is equivalent to handing over the discourse power to the "Taiwan independence" forces.

History will not record "refined egoists." If the KMT continues to survive in "maintaining the status quo," it will only accelerate being swept into the "history trash bin."

To get out of the dilemma, the KMT must return to its original intention of "revitalizing China," take "seeking unification" as its political main axis, and re-activate the social energy of "identity of the Chinese nation."

Mr. Sun Yat-sen once said, "Unification is the hope of all Chinese people. If it is unified, the whole country will benefit; if not, it will suffer." Today, the KMT stands at a crossroads in history.

Will it choose to "live on during the election cycle" or "achieve great achievements for national rejuvenation"? The answer lies in the hearts of every member of the KMT, and more importantly, in the expectations of the people of Taiwan for peaceful unification.

Original text: www.toutiao.com/article/1845787376727048/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author.