Chinese-language media on Friday last week reported that a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Central Standing Committee member has filed a petition to expel media personality and politician Jaw Shaw-kong (趙少康) from the party for interviews with Democratic Progressive Party Legislator and Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen (沈伯洋).
The interviews were an effort to break out of the usual partisan media bubbles and foster mutual understanding between the pan-blue and pan-green camps rather than hostility.
That is an effort to be applauded, not condemned.
It is common knowledge that Jaw is a pan-blue supporter, but he is also a major media figure. Inviting candidates from both sides of the aisle is what a media professional should be doing.
Supporters on both sides should seek to understand one another’s ideas and positions, and compete on their own merits. They should not demonize those with opposing views. Doing so only hurts Taiwan.
Jaw has made it clear that he would not care in the slightest if he were expelled from the party, but it would certainly damage the party’s image and undermine Taiwan’s democratic stature.
This is a fire that KMT Central Committee members should stop adding fuel to.
Chiu Shih-chang is a teacher.
Translated by Gilda Knox Streader