Cho Jung-tai Urges Evolving Discourse in Response to Lu Hsiu-yen's Call to Scrap DPP's Independence Clause

(CNA, Taipei, May 19, by reporter Lin Ching-yin) Taichung Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen today suggested three things to President Lai Ching-te, including the removal of the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) 'Taiwan independence clause.' Premier Cho Jung-tai responded by saying that as an important political figure in the country, one must keep pace with the times and be aware of current affairs. He argued that if, after more than 20 years since 1999, one cannot grasp this phenomenon, has not progressed, and cannot adjust their discourse with the evolution of the times, they will alienate themselves from the people. This afternoon, the Legislative Yuan invited the Premier and relevant ministry heads to present a special report on the 'Planning for the Special Budget for the First Phase of the Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the National Security and Asymmetric Warfare Reinforcement Program' and to answer questions. During questioning, DPP Legislator Ho Hsin-chun noted that Lu Hsiu-yen had made a high-profile proposal of three things to President Lai today (personally clarifying that Taiwan will not declare independence, removing the Taiwan independence clause as DPP chairman, and genuinely safeguarding the Republic of China). Ho responded with three points of her own: 'maintaining the status quo is the consensus of all people,' 'economy first and people's livelihood foremost,' and 'sincerely loving Taiwan,' and asked for Cho Jung-tai's opinion. Cho said that Ho's three responses are the essential national psychological qualities that the people of the Republic of China, Taiwan, should possess. He explained that when the DPP proposed the 'Resolution on Taiwan's Future' in 1999, it clearly stated that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country, now called the Republic of China under the constitution, with its jurisdiction covering Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, and their affiliated islands. This has been the case since 1999. Cho reiterated that as an important domestic political figure, one must evolve with the times. He concluded that if, from 1999 to the present, one has been completely unable to grasp this phenomenon for over two decades, has made no personal progress, and cannot adjust their discourse to match the evolution of the times, they will alienate themselves from the citizenry.