In response to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) repeated false accusations of the Kuomintang’s (KMT) so-called “abandonment” of Taiwan, the KMT stressed today, August 20, that the international community is highly concerned about the chaos caused by the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. The developments have triggered the people’s deep concerns about the DPP’s cross-strait and foreign policies. The ruling party cannot come up with any measures to reassure the people. It only knows to criticize the opposition party to shift the focus, proving yet again that the DPP is a failed ruling party.
The KMT indicated that news related to the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan has been widely reported for days by the international media, which have also identified possible ramifications, including the New York Times commentary that the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan has a profound impact on the democratic world and that the U.S. may not support its allies and partners unconditionally and indefinitely. The feelings of Taiwan and the Ukraine are most obvious. Countless reports like this represent the deep-seated worries of the people about the DPP’s pro-U.S., anti-China stance. The DPP’s scheme to discredit the legitimate worries of the people as caused by the KMT’s misinformation is deeply absurd and ridiculous; it also constitutes a serious insult to the intelligence of the people.
The KMT stressed that the cross-strait and foreign policies under the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou from 2008 to 2016 prioritized the well-being of the people of Taiwan and did not subject the people’s lives and property to reliance upon a unilateral source of external support. The KMT thanks the United States for its long-term assistance and support under the “Taiwan Relations Act” in order to maintain Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities and maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The KMT also argues that the people must stand strong and self-reliant, defend the Republic of China, and, at the same time, earn foreign support while improving cross-strait relations.
The KMT indicated that when the people face a confidence crisis, a responsible ruling party should take concrete and effective measures and sincerely explain to the society to reassure the people, instead of discrediting the opposition party and shifting the focus. After the DPP abandoned the 1992 Consensus, it has continued to play the anti-China card, making Taiwan a high-risk flashpoint. The DPP and the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen ought to explain to the people how they plan to avoid cross-strait confrontation.
