Tough times for Taiwan's pro-independence party

As relations with China warm, a former political force retrenches.

By Jonathan Adams
Published: June 24, 2009 21:56 ET
Page 2 of 2

"They're clearly trying to win them [DPP members] across," said Bruce Jacobs, a Taiwan expert at Australia's Monash University. "Whether they will be successful is another issue. But there's no question they're trying."

Beset with such difficulties, the party is scrambling for a survival strategy. For one, it’s drafting a list of do’s and dont’s for party members’ travel to China.

In the meantime, it’s made it known that elected officials and ranking members at party central should not go to China; other party members should be wary.

"We rely on the self-discipline of our party members, not to fall into the divide and conquer traps that they [the Chinese] are laying out," said Hsiao.

Meanwhile, the party is looking for creative ways to raise money: in May it launched a system for accepting donations through convenience stores ("We’re the only political party in the world where you can donate to us through 7-11," said Hsiao.)

And it’s returning to its scrappy, street-protest roots to try to prop up flagging morale. The latest large-scale protests were May 17, in both Taipei and Kaohsiung.

But even Hsiao admits that the mood in the party is dark.

Some pro-independence hardliners are becoming more radicalized, Hsiao said, as Taiwan’s government leans ever closer to China.

Others are simply losing interest in politics. "Some of our supporters have turned apathetic — they say there’s no hope; we might not even have another election because we’ll be part of China soon," said Hsiao. "A lot of people have said that to me, that’s scary and sad."

Such talk is likely paranoia; President Ma Ying-jeou has publicly ruled out unification during his term.

In the end, Hsiao says, the party can't fight the political headwinds alone — the Taiwanese will have to step up.

"We’re being squeezed to the limit; we have no choice but to rely on the people of Taiwan," said Hsiao. "If they decide there’s value in a multiparty system, then they’ll have a stake in our survival."

More GlobalPost dispatches from Taiwan:

Apple under fire in Taiwan

 Don't mess with these Taiwanese women

Beauty and the geeks

Tiananmen 20 years on: Reflections from Taiwan

From front lines to commerce

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Posted by bonjourlausanne on June 25, 2009 15:16 ET

Thank you for interviewing Ms. Hsiao and Professor Loh. It is a pleasure to see pro-taiwan representatives been interviewed.
'Too little, too late' is what I have to say to DPP leaders. Over the past few years, DPP forgot why Taiwanese support this party. Instead of serving Taiwanese people, it put political interests first. In the past year, DPP did not take initiatives to stop Ma's China-Friendly policies, did not defend for Chen Shui-Bian's human rights, and lost in both elections. Taiwanese will not go down with DPP, and will not give up our right to have our own country recognized by the international world.

Posted by tryit on June 30, 2009 22:59 ET

It's bad

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