Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Ko and his tone-deaf ‘white’ party

Taipei Times Editorials

Just when you thought that former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and his Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) could not be any more tone deaf, they leave everyone dumbstruck with another inexplicable exploit.

Any English speaker could have seen the latest controversy coming a mile away. The story broke on Sunday with a Facebook post by the podcast Bailingguo News (百靈果News) exposing the slogan “Vote White, Vote Right” prominently featured on the English version of the TPP’s Web site. As the commenters pointed out, the phrase would immediately be understood as supportive of far-right white supremacist politics, which is not what the party intended.

TPP drops controversial slogan

Taipei Times

The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) yesterday decided to remove a controversial slogan — “Vote White, Vote Right” — from its Web site after the wording was criticized as being similar to that used by US white supremacist groups.

TPP spokeswoman Lin Tzu-yu (林子宇) told a news conference that the slogan had referred to the color white that the TPP brands itself with.

“It was supposed to mean that a vote for the ‘power of white’ is the right choice,” she said.

Walking on Beijing’s minefield

Taipei Times Editorials

A heated conversation between a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Keelung city councilor and a local resident on whether an ammunition depot in the city should be relocated has stirred debate about public attitudes toward national security in Taiwan, and has drawn speculation on the KMT’s cross-strait stance.

After nine soldiers were injured in a blast at the Hsiang Feng military base depot in Keelung on Monday, KMT Keelung City Councilor Lu Mei-ling (呂美玲) on Tuesday visited a local market to hear residents’ opinions with a reporter in toe.

China’s grasp of Taiwan history

Ho Cheng-en 何承恩

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) National Congress, which took place on July 24, unanimously passed a resolution nominating New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) as the party’s presidential candidate.

Hou has said that he supports the so-called “1992 consensus” and that he would take part in a protest march against Taiwan independence.

Taiwan People’s Party’s presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) on July 18 said that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family, and there is room for negotiations between the two sides. He also said that Taiwan cannot achieve de jure independence. How sad for Taiwan to watch these two rival candidates singing China’s tune.

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