DPP Newsletter Oct2011

8/3/2019 DPP Newsletter Oct2011

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OCTOBER 2011

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DPP unveils2012 campaignheadquarters

DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS

On Sunday, Oct. 23, the grand opening of Tsai Ing-

wen and Su Jia-chyuans campaign headquarters

took place in Banchiao district in New Taipei City.

The campaign headquarters is located at a

newly opened building, with simplicity as its

theme, and the newly unveiled office will not be

using air conditioning to reflect the DPPs green

principle. It is also a first for the DPP as former

campaign headquarters in the past presidential

elections were all located in Taipei City.During the day of the opening, thousands of

people swarmed around the building toattend the rally activities designed as a festivity

with music and speeches by DPP heavyweights

Former Vice President Annette Lu and former

premiers Chang Chung-hsiung, Frank Hsieh, Su

Tseng-tsang and You Si-kun.

As part of the tradition in all DPP rallies, there

were street vendors gathered around the site, sell-

ing Taiwanese local snacks, while supporters

queued up to purchase campaign memorabilia sold

by Tsai Ing-wens newly released souvenir shop,Ings Goods.


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OCTOBER 2011

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DPP unveils 2012 campaign headquarters

The event climaxed when the DPPs candidate

for vice president, Su Jia-chyuan, accompanied

by Tsai, made their entrance right down the heart

of the supporting crowd.

Tsai immediately spoke to the crowds on Mas

proposal for a peace agreement with China, inwhich Tsai said she believed the proposal as

reckless, and that Ma was simply delivering im-

pulsive schemes without deliberating or even

considering the consequences.

A hasty and rash policy towards China is

more dangerous than an incompetent govern-

ment, Tsai said. For an incompetent govern-

ment, the people can tighten their belts and try to

cope with the current administration. A rash pol-

icy towards China could seriously hinder our fu-ture generations chance to make choices for

themselves.

Tsai mentioned that she had previously asked

Ma for a bipartisan discussion of referendum

laws in order to ensure that the rights of the peo-

ple were accurately and justly represented, but

she said it was turned down because Ma thought

it was unnecessary.

When I become president, I will not act

strictly on impulse and say whatever I will with-out giving much thought to the consequences.

Our president does not appear to

care about the implication of hisproposals, and his peace agreement

proposal has stirred up uncertainty

in our society as well as a grim out-

look among our people.

In her speech, Tsai emphasized

that socio-economic problems are

much more urgent and should take

priority over cross-strait relations in

the current presidential race. Tsai

also noted the importance for fair-ness and justice in society, stressing

that Taiwan should not be a country

that consists of two different

worlds. She lastly vouchsafed that

justice and fairness will be the DPPs main goal.

The next president will stand on the same

side as the underprivileged and improve the qual-

ity of peoples lives, she said.


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OCTOBER 2011

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Chair Tsai Ing-wens autobiography hits the shelves

Tsai Ing-wen recently released her autobi-

ography, a book that has been given the

title From Onion Scrambled Eggs to Lit-

tle Ings Bento Boxes. The title of the

book summed up her path to presidential

candidacy, from being part of the grass-

roots to the leader of the main opposition

party in Taiwan.

The book has its title because onion

scrambled eggs was a popular dish made

by Tsais father while she was growing up,

and decades later, she has become the face

of the Democratic Progressive Party,

where the idea of selling Little Ings

bento boxes started.

Little Ings Bento Boxes are no differ-

ent than regular lunch boxes eaten by

Taiwanese people at lunchtime. These

lunch boxes have been sold at different

venues where Tsai make public appear-

ances, but it is the price of NT$2,012 NT

per lunch box that makes them special be-

cause people that buy them are contribut-

ing to the partys fundraising efforts.

In her autography, it is described that

Tsai Ing-wen is often perceived as grace-

ful and elegant, joyful as her smile can be

seen everywhere she visits. Nonetheless,

when it comes to negotiating, she is not

only well known for her ability to bargain,

but also her perseverance and persistence. She isperceived as calm and steady, handling tasks at her

own pace regardless of circumstances.

The book offers Tsais view of how she gained

her international insight during her years abroad,

and it was there that she realized that while it may

be important to learn the language of others, it was

more important to think rationally like others.

In her autobiography, she describes her tough-

est challenge when the DPP reached a low point in

2008. Tsai rose to the task and accepted the posi-tion of chairperson of the DPP amid worries and

reservations from within the party. Gradually, Tsai

resolved all doubts and suspicions as she success-fully united the party once again with her moder-

ate and pragmatic approach, which is considered

atypical yet proven effective.

To further understand the path of the first fe-

male presidential candidate, the book offers a

great aspect of her life, in her own words.


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OCTOBER 2011

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DPPs campaign bus tour from south to north connectswith grassroots supporters

Campaign Route One

is the name of the

campaign trail by DPP

Chair Tsai Ing-wen

from the southernmost

part of Taiwan to the

northernmost, a 500

kilometers route de-

signed to connect with

the heart and soul of

DPP's grassroots

support.

The campaign began

on October 6th from

Pingtung's Cape

Eluanbi, and it went

through 14 counties/

cities, and 79 towns/

villages, ending with

80,000 gathered in the

heart of Taipei City.

From beginning to

the end, Tsai had en-

gaged in many interac-

tions with her support-

ers throughout the trip,

such as playing soft

tennis in Pintung, and

riding bicycles in Yun-

lin. Nonetheless, theentire campaign trip

emphasized on DPPs

core principles, focus-

ing on socio-economic

and domestic problems rather than cross-strait is-

sues at a time where social equality is being heav-

ily challenged in Taiwan.

Tsai visited many of the underprivileged groups

in Taiwan throughout Campaign Route One, as

well as touched upon many aspects of the society

that have been undermined by the current govern-

ment such as artists, athletes, and farmers alike.

In a speech delivered by Tsai in Chiayi, she

discussed the inequality issue that is prevalent in

Taiwan.

We are all Taiwanese citizens, but why do wereceive unequal treatment from the government


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OCTOBER 2011

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...DPPs campaign bus tour

and suffer from unfair distribution of government

resources?She further mentioned that the growing dispar-

ity within the island is dividing Taiwan into three

different worlds, The first is Taipei, since it is the

capital, then the other four major cities located

throughout the island, and then the other counties

such as Chiayi, almost becoming a third-world

county.

Tsai criticized the current government as ineffi-

cient and incapa-

ble of managingnational re-

sources, resulting

in an overwhelm-

ing national debt

of 1.3 trillion NT.

If we con-

tinue to let the

current admini-

stration remain in

power, we willcontinue to ac-

cumulate more

and more na-

tional debt, and

eventually it will

become the bur-

den of our future

generations. This

is unjust and un-

fair to our nextgeneration as

they will be fac-

ing much tougher

challenges in ad-

dition to our debt

problem.

When confronted with questions regarding

cross-strait relations, Tsai remained consistent and

stated regardless where in Taiwan you are from,

whether itd be Maple Port or Pintung, we must

protect our sovereignty, and we must protect our

dignity.The campaign trail concluded on October 16th

and was regarded as a great success. Throughout

Campaign Route One, more supporters turned up

than anticipated, and the passion of the crowds

Tsai met during the route left many visible bruises

on Chair Tsai Ing-wen's arms.

The climax of the campaign was the final rally

taking place on Ketagalan Boulevard. Tsai's re-

marks resonated with

the people's desire tosee change in the gov-

ernment, "the people

of Taiwan have had

enough!" she said.

Discontent with

the current administra-

tion was clear. In a

time where the gov-

ernment refuses to

face up to economicand social inequality,

Tsai clearly addressed

each of these prob-

lems while outlining

her policy proposals at

the grand finale to re-

assure the people of

Taiwan.


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OCTOBER 2011

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DPP chair Tsai Ing-wen visits Japan

From Oct. 3-5, DPP Chair and Presidential Candi-date Tsai Ing-wen visited Japan in an effort to

promote her presidential bid as well as to further

strengthen the bilateral relationship between Tai-

wan and Japan. In the three-day trip, she met with

senior political figures from both the ruling Demo-

cratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and the opposition Lib-

eral Democratic Party (LDP), as well as members

from the Japanese parliament. Chair was also in-

vited to speak at the Foreign Correspondents Club

of Japan(FCCJ) and

the Waseda

University in

Tokyo.

The DPP

Delegation

included

Former Pre-

mier Frank

Hsieh, whonow serves as

Tsais cam-

paign chief,

Foreign Pol-

icy adviser

and Former

Ambassador

to Japan Mr. Koh Se-Kai, Foreign Policy Advisor

Ms. Chang Fu-Mei, DPP Spokesperson Mr. Chen

Chi-Mai, Spokesperson for International AffairsMs. Bi-khim Hsiao, and several DPP legislators

and city councilors.

The Taiwanese community in Japan held a wel-

come reception for Chair Tsai on the first evening

on October 3rd, followed by an event attended by

more than 500 people and important guests. In her

speech, Chair Tsai highlighted the close relations

between Taiwan and Japan over the years as a

form of Taiwan Consensus.

She further stated that the Taiwan consensus,which is the starting point of her policy on China,

is needed for Taiwan to develop its external rela-tions, particularly with China. Taiwans future with

China should be based on a new foundation,

which is inclusive and through democratic means,

she said.

On the second day of her Japan trip, the DPP

delegation visited the ruling Democratic Party of

Japan and met with former Foreign Minister Seiji

Maehara, Chairman of the DPJ Policy Research

Committee. In the meeting. they exchanged views

on issues con-cerning re-

gional security

and economic

activities.

Chair Tsai

stated the im-

portance for

Taiwan and

Japan to co-

operate moreclosely on the

promotion of

peace and sta-

bility in the

region, as well

as in the area

of trade and

economic relations. She further elaborated her

views on regional security and economic integra-

tion in her speech at the Foreign CorrespondentsClub of Japan later that day. She highlighted the

US-Japan security pact as the cornerstone of peace

and stability in East Asia and the DPPs wish to

strengthen Taiwans relations with Japan. She said

that closer economic ties with Japan would help to

prevent further marginalization and over-

dependence on China economically, adding that it

would be mutually beneficial if Taiwan were to

join the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific

(FTAAP) or the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).


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OCTOBER 2011

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DEMOCRACY &

PROGRESS

PUBLISHED BY:

Department of InternationalAffairs DemocraticProgressive Party

9F, No. 30, Pei-Ping EastRoad, Taipei, Taiwan

Tel: 886-2-2392-9989 ext. 306

Fax: 886-2-2393-0342

Email: [email protected]

Website:

http://www.dpp.org.tw

DIRECTOR:

Bikhim Hsiao

DEPUTY DIRECTOR:

Hsieh Huai-hui

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:

Michael J. Fonte

EDITOR:

Ping-Ya Hsu

STAFF WRITERS:David Huang

...DPP chair visits Japan

On relations with China,

Chair Tsai said that she would

improve the relationship with

China by sharing the concept of

peaceful development in mutu-

ally beneficial, wise and respon-

sible ways. She further stated

that it is Taiwan's responsibility

to maintain peace and stability

in the region. The most realisticway to reach this goal, she said,

is "to reach a strategic under-

standing that recognizes differ-

ences while also allowing for

the pursuit of common inter-

ests."

On her last day in Tokyo,

speaking to a class of more than

300 students at Waseda Univer-

sity, Chair Tsai talked abouthow the young generations

should develop independent

thinking and how important it is

for citizens today to enjoy free-

dom and democracy.

During her stay in Japan,

Chair Tsai also met with

Secretary-General Nobuteru

Ishihar and the leadership of the

opposition Liberal DemocraticParty at the LDP headquarters.

Additionally, she met with for-

mer Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

from the LDP, and other key

figures.

Commenting on the meetings

with the important political fig-

ures in a press conference con-

cluding the Japan visit, she said

Japan and Taiwan share deep

cultural and historical ties and

that the two countries should

seek to reinforce bilateral rela-

tions, which should not be af-

fected due to power shifts in

either country.

She also emphasized that

people she met with in Japan

have come to understand that

the DPP is a confident and ca-pable and determined to effec-

tively maintain peace and stabil-

ity across the Taiwan Strait

when it regains power next

year.

Lastly, she noted that, in con-

trast to previous DPP visits to

Japan when most of the discus-

sions were focused on political

issues, Tsai said this trip cov-ered a wide range of talks about

peoples livelihood and other

public issues such as nuclear

safety, low birth rates, wealth

gap, and lack of adequate jobs

for the young generation - prob-

lems and challenges faced by

both Taiwanese and Japanese

society.
http://www.dpp.org.tw/http://www.dpp.org.tw/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

DPP Newsletter Oct2011

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