《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》 KMT chairman calls for pan-blue unity

EARLY SPARRING? Presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu said it is hard to respect Soong’s decision to join the race, adding that people do not like political ‘wandering’

By Stacy Hsu and Alison Hsiao / Staff reporters

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Chinese Nationalist Party （KMT） Chairman Eric Chu （朱立倫） yesterday called for the unification of all pan-blue forces in the run-up to next year’s presidential and legislative elections after People First Party （PFP） Chairman James Soong （宋楚瑜） announced he would enter January’s race, a move expected to split the pan-blue vote.

“From past experience, we have never won an election when the pan-blue camp has been divided, Chu said on the sidelines of an industrial event in New Taipei City, where he is mayor. “We must unite all pan-blue forces, as well as our public support.”

“We must not give up on peace until the end,” he said. “We must not cease cooperation until the moment of despair. The KMT will do its utmost.”

Chu said that the KMT was not afraid of a fight, but added that the party would not pass up any opportunity to cooperate, despite the fact that it has nominated candidates for a number of legislative seats.

However, KMT presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu （洪秀柱） said it is hard for her to say she respects Soong’s decision.

“Soong was my superior and has plenty of experience in campaigns,” Hung said.

“So it is difficult for me to express respect [for Soong’s decision], but I do not have to say that I feel sorry either,” Hung said.

“In Taiwanese society, politicians who care only about [party affiliations], but not right and wrong, are not appreciated. People do not like politicians who wander around for [political] benefit,” she said.

A statement released by Hung’s office said Soong had “deviated from [former president] Chiang Ching-kuo’s （蔣經國） spirit and walked away from the pan-blue ideals with his remarks and actions in the past several years.”

KMT Vice Chairman Hau Lung-bin （郝龍斌）, who is vying for a legislative seat in Keelung, expressed respect for Soong’s decision to run for the presidency again.

“The KMT had always treated the PFP as its close ally, a party we aimed to team up with to create a win-win situation,” Hau said.

Given that the PFP is widely considered a spin-off from the KMT and the two parties pretty much share the same voters, Hau said Soong’s candidacy would inevitably have an impact on Hung’s campaign.

However, it has become self-evident in recent years that the PFP mostly cooperates with the Democratic Progressive Party （DPP） and has deviated from KMT and Republic of China founding father Sun Yat-sen’s （孫中山） principles, Hau said.

“The KMT might be able to turn Soong’s presidential candidacy in its favor, if it can convey this to pan-blue supporters,” he added.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES