Taiwan's Two-Party Split: KMT vs. DPP on Independence

Introduction: Two Visions of Taiwan

Two distinct political movements shape the course of modern Taiwanese history: groups that are pro-independence and those that favor eventual unification with mainland China. In the year 2000, the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party came into power in Taiwan, taking over from the well-established Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party). The official websites of these two major Taiwanese political parties display different approaches to the independence issue as well as to Taiwanese history and culture. The tone of writing, content, and design layout of these websites also distinguish the attitudes of these opposing political parties.

The Kuomintang Website: Chinese Nationalism and Historical Continuity

The Kuomintang enjoys the distinction of being the most well-established and historically popular political party on the island of Taiwan. Founded by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the Kuomintang maintained relatively unchallenged political dominance until the year 2000. The Kuomintang website, which offers only one page of information in the English language, briefly mentions the peaceful turnover of power and makes no reference to opposition parties like the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). This omission indicates the party's continued confidence in the support of a large number of Taiwanese residents. Moreover, text on the Kuomintang website suggests that the party is synonymous with the nation of Taiwan itself: "For more than a century, the Kuomintang and the Republic of China have been inseparable."

The fact that the official party website offers only one page of text in English emphasizes the nationalist stance of party ideology and underscores pride in Chinese heritage, language, and culture. A photograph accompanying the title bar shows a variety of happy men and women, implying that those who belong to the Kuomintang are those who help to define the nation of Taiwan. As the Chinese Nationalist Party, the Kuomintang promotes a strong sense of Chinese identity among residents of Taiwan as well as Taiwanese nationals living abroad. Language, ethnicity, culture, and political values are key components of national identity within the Kuomintang framework. Ties to mainland China through family lineage and business are actively encouraged.

The Kuomintang website emphasizes the party's inception as a "revolutionary" party in the early twentieth century and traces the evolution of party politics since 1912. By tracing the development of Taiwanese political history through the role of the Kuomintang, the website effectively merges the interests of Taiwan with the interests of the party. The Kuomintang depicts the history of the nation as a struggle for democracy in the face of immense opposition — not only from mainland China but also from invading forces. The website makes no mention of the support of the international community or its role in the future of Taiwan's identity as a nation.

KMT Symbolism, Language, and the Unification Stance

The official flag of the Kuomintang — a white sun on a blue background — is displayed in stylized three-dimensional form in the upper left-hand corner of the website. Blue is the symbolic color of the pro-unification political forces in Taiwan; the pro-independence political movements are generally referred to as the "pan-green" coalition. Furthermore, the center of the flag features a globe, pointing to the Kuomintang's willingness to participate in the global community despite its staunchly nationalist orientation. Their concern is not so much with the recognition of Taiwan as a separate political entity in the United Nations as it is with preserving Chinese culture within a democratic framework on the island.

Unlike the websites of other Taiwanese political organizations — namely the opposing Democratic Progressive Party — the Kuomintang website displays no map of the island of Taiwan, consistent with the party's overtly pro-unification position. Because the entire Kuomintang website, except for one page, is published in Chinese, it is difficult for the non-Chinese speaker to assess the various political programs the party sponsors without visiting outside links.

Conclusion: Competing Narratives of a Nation

To further stimulate a sense of nationalist identity, the DPP website includes a title bar featuring a photograph of a scenic beach on the island. No flag is displayed on any of the website's pages. The fact that the DPP's English-language site is thorough and comprehensive signals that the party prioritizes active participation in the international community as a distinct cultural and political entity. The Kuomintang, by contrast, comes across as more insular and more interested in forging harmonious political and economic ties with the mainland. Moreover, the Kuomintang does not seek to disturb the status quo of Taiwan's identity as part of a unified China, whereas doing precisely that is one of the DPP's central objectives.

Of course, both the Kuomintang and the DPP claim to offer a comprehensive political, cultural, and economic solution for the nation. Examining and analyzing the websites of the Kuomintang and the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan offers insight into the complexities and conflicts within Taiwanese politics, demonstrating the deep ideological differences between these two major political forces in the island nation.

Works Cited

Democratic Progressive Party. http://www.dpp.org.tw/.

Kuomintang.