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‘I am Taiwanese,’ Ma
tells his followers on Facebook
By Mo Yan-chih / Staff Reporter
The issue of identity re-entered the presidential campaign yesterday after
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) defined himself as “Taiwanese” in response to a
campaign slogan introduced by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson and
presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) last week that highlights her
intention to enhance her public identification as Taiwanese.
Writing on his Facebook page, Ma, who is seeking re-election in January next
year, dismissed Tsai’s accusations that he was undermining the nation’s
sovereignty and identity, saying he identified himself as Taiwanese and a
citizen of the Republic of China (ROC).
“I am a descendant of the Yellow Emperor in blood and I identify with Taiwan in
terms of my identity. I fight for Taiwan and I am Taiwanese,” Ma wrote. “In
nationality, I am an ROC citizen and I am the president of the ROC.”
Tsai last week introduced her “I am a Taiwanese” campaign slogan, which follows
up her two earlier slogans “Taiwan NEXT” and “Taiwan, what do you want?”
Tsai has vowed to devote more resources toward enhancing Taiwanese recognition
in the international community if the DPP regains the presidency next year. At a
campaign event on Friday last week, she accused Ma and the government of
damaging the nation’s sovereignty and identity, adding that the president “finds
it difficult to say the word ‘Taiwanese’ out loud.”
Ma’s posting was in contrast with a posting by New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming
(郁慕明) on Monday, who clearly identified himself as Chinese.
“I am Yok Mu-ming and I am Chinese,” the head of the New Party, which is closely
aligned with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), wrote in a text message sent
to reporters.
Amid tensions between the People First Party, another party in the pan-blue
camp, and the KMT over cooperation in the legislative elections, Yok said Ma,
who doubles as KMT chairman, and Tsai should clarify their stance on national
identity and he urged the two parties to defend the ROC.
Ma campaign office spokesman Yin Wei (殷偉) said “one China, with each side having
its own interpretation” was the Ma administration’s constant position and that
“one China” referred to the ROC.
Also yesterday, Ma’s campaign office introduced four members who will focus on
Ma’s online election campaign via social networking platforms including YouTube,
Facebook, Google+ and Plurk.
Yin said the four members, who are all in their 30s, would work with the team to
promote campaign events via the Internet and allow younger voters to learn more
about Ma and his campaign platform, and to communicate with the president in a
more creative and direct way.
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