讀後心得

DPP Chairman Lai Ching-te criticized the Democratic Progressive Party, which has been in power for twelve years, for leading Taiwan into isolation and difficulties. In the face of military threats from China, the DPP has failed to effectively uphold Taiwan's sovereignty and has continuously compromised in trade negotiations with the United States, opening doors to U.S. pork and beef containing ractopamine, which harms public health. Now, in response to U.S. tariff issues, there are calls for the DPP to hold public hearings and a national referendum, similar to how they treated Ma Ying-jeou in the past, and to demand an apology from Lai Ching-te. However, the DPP has attributed the difficulties to a lack of unity among the opposition parties and the people, and has responded with a special budget to address the issues. They urge unity to meet the challenges and demand the resignation of Executive Yuan Premier Chiu Tai-san to collectively change the status quo.

Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party and President Lai Ching-te.

The Democratic Progressive Party has been in power for twelve years, finally bringing Taiwan to a state of isolation and helplessness. In the face of mainland China, the Democratic Progressive Party turns a blind eye to the Chinese Communist Party's military exercises "against Taiwan," allowing the breach of the median line in the Taiwan Strait, letting coast guard vessels board and inspect ships in the restricted waters of Kinmen and Matsu, and even encroaching into the 24-nautical-mile adjacent zone of the main island of Taiwan. Such humiliations did not occur during the administration of former President Ma Ying-jeou, yet the Democratic Progressive Party dares to criticize the Kuomintang instead. In terms of relations with the U.S., in 2012, the Ma government cautiously limited the opening of U.S. beef, prompting the resumption of the Taiwan-U.S. Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) meetings that had been halted for six years. During that time, the Democratic Progressive Party launched the "Anti-Drug Beef Grand Parade" against the opening of U.S. beef, shouting, "Against Betrayal, Against Deception," demanding public hearings and a nationwide referendum before negotiations with the U.S., and paralyzing legislative proceedings for 120 hours. Lai Ching-te, then a legislator, even demanded that Ma Ying-jeou "should not use the U.S. to intimidate the people" and claimed that Ma should publicly apologize for the social unrest caused by the U.S., ultimately calling for Ma Ying-jeou's resignation.

However, since the Democratic Progressive Party came to power, it has significantly opened the import of U.S. pork and beef containing ractopamine, with import volumes exceeding 16,000 tons in one year, in exchange for the Taiwan-U.S. 21st Century Trade Initiative, which became meaningless amid up to 32% tariffs imposed by Trump on Taiwan. In this process, the health of the Taiwanese people and trade autonomy were ruthlessly sacrificed. On March 31, the U.S. further returned Taiwan's U.S. pork origin labeling, rejected sprouting potatoes, and restricted the use of genetically modified foods in school lunches, viewing them as "unnecessary trade barriers," intending to pressure us into completely lifting the ban through tariffs. Since the Democratic Progressive Party took office, farmers have lost their livelihoods, children's health has been threatened, and food businesses lack choices. Now, it has become increasingly difficult for the people of Taiwan to live with dignity and survive.

Do we have the right to learn from the Democratic Progressive Party’s methods of opposing U.S. beef and initiate an "Anti-Tariff Grand Parade" against the U.S. tariffs, demanding the Democratic Progressive Party hold public hearings before negotiating with the U.S., with concrete measures put to a nationwide referendum? We also have the right to demand Lai Ching-te adhere to his stance from back then, and not use the U.S. to threaten the people, as well as to publicly apologize for the public sentiment stirred up by U.S. tariffs! At the same time, we should call for Lai Ching-te and Su Tseng-chang to resign.

What shocks us is that the Democratic Progressive Party shifts the predicament it has brought upon the people and the opposition parties to their lack of unity. Even though the Democratic Progressive Party once demanded Ma Ying-jeou apologize for the opening of U.S. beef, in March of this year, it mobilized administrative officials to hold eight policy briefing sessions, planning to hold three hundred more in April, but ultimately proposed a special budget of 88 billion, using the hardworking people's earnings to compensate for the uncontrollable consequences of U.S. tariffs. As long as the opposition parties check the people's taxes again, the Democratic Progressive Party can evade responsibility in the name of unity, thus achieving a "united dictatorship." While we collectively respond to the challenge of U.S. tariffs, we can only see Lai Ching-te immersed in music, Shiao Mei-chin savoring spring rolls, and the Democratic Progressive Party eager to flaunt its power by organizing exhausting recall activities—this behavior has already lost its meaning. It is to be hoped that Premier Su Tseng-chang should resign, allowing the majority party to form a cabinet, so that the legislature can reallocate the special budget of 88 billion. We hope the Democratic Progressive Party can set aside differences, prioritize national interests, and give the opposition parties the opportunity to form a government, as unity is needed now more than ever.