方恩格專欄》現在是賴總統團結臺灣的好時機

國民黨推出模仿美國動畫《南方四賤客》的最新公投CF，片中以「萊爾校長」影射總統賴清德，暗示他被青鳥及側翼包圍。（圖 / 擷取自國民黨YT）

上個月，筆者在《中國時報》上撰文探討「大罷免後 賴總統該做的事」，儘管該評論是在民進黨726大罷免失敗之前做的。

7月26日，對這些罷團來說是一個困窘時刻，而對於賴總統領導的民進黨來說，也是一個尷尬時刻，因爲該黨支持這些罷免，對24名國民黨立法委員的罷免都以失敗告終。此外，對於新竹市市長高弘安的罷免也在726失敗，高市長曾是臺灣民衆黨的黨員，目前因上訴貪污定罪而被暫停職務。

8月23日臺灣再次舉行罷免投票，這次針對7名國民黨立法委員。此外，還舉行了一項全國公投，討論是否延長核三電廠（也稱爲馬鞍山核電廠）的使用壽命。

筆者認爲，賴總統應該在大罷免和公投之後，試圖解決臺灣政治中幾個令人擔憂的事件：

一、八炯建議學習納粹：八炯是一位網紅，他透過批評國民黨立委和中國的影片插手罷免運動。在7月26日公投失敗後，8月4日，他的同事閩南狼透露，八炯曾建議使用納粹式的方法來獲得民衆對罷免運動的支持。身爲一名旅臺的猶太裔居民，筆者對八炯建議使用納粹戰術感到厭惡，並認爲八炯的道歉不夠誠懇。

八炯並不是第一位在公共領域中做出不當提及大屠殺時期的人。今年早些時候，國民黨主席朱立倫將賴清德比作希特勒，筆者和德國在臺北的代表處都對此表示批評。臺灣政治人物頻繁使用希特勒和納粹的言論，無論是批評對手還是作爲效法的例子，都必須停止，這爲臺灣帶來負面的國際媒體關注，在八炯事件之後，BBC發表了一篇長文，討論臺灣的許多類似事件。更重要的是，這在民主社會中毫無立足之地，賴清德應公開呼籲網紅和政治人物停止這種言論。

二、蘭嶼聖水事件：8月20日，前民進黨臺北市黨部副執行長陳聖文前往臺北市國民黨總部送瓶裝水，幾天前他曾在蘭嶼的一個核廢料儲存地點附近帶來這些「核廢水」。陳在社交媒體上分享了他前往蘭嶼的行程，並在前往國民黨總部踢館時，還有幾家媒體的攝影記者陪同。不幸的是，國民黨發言人楊智●突然出現，並一口喝下陳帶來的一瓶水。這一事件對陳聖文、民進黨以及核能反對者來說都是一個尷尬時刻。

「聖水事件」最終不會對臺灣未來是否使用核能產生任何影響，然而它將臺灣能源安全和國家安全的重要公共討論簡化爲一場媒體噱頭。臺灣人民應該從他們的政治人物那裡得到更好的對待。

三、四叉貓批評黃國昌之子國籍：8月21日，網紅四叉貓公開推測，根據他對黃國昌轉讓給另一位黃姓者的財產公共記錄顯示，黃國昌的未成年兒子可能是美國公民。筆者不知道四叉貓將政治人物的孩子作爲公共討論主題的動機，也許這是對賴清德總統的兒子在美國生活批評的迴應。

然而，賴清德的孩子和黃國昌的孩子之間有着顯著的差異。賴清德的孩子是成年人，而黃國昌的孩子是未成年人。將政治人物的未成年子女牽扯進來是四叉貓可恥的行爲，應該受到不僅是民衆黨，還有民進黨的批評。

這些最近發生的幾起事件對臺灣的團結造成了可怕傷害。賴清德總統應該在這段艱難時期團結臺灣，以下是幾點對他的建議：

一、再次嘗試與在野黨主席會面。賴清德之前曾提議向國民黨和民衆黨主席做「國家安全簡報」，但該提議被兩人拒絕。也許在大罷免和公投之後，賴清德可以再次提議與在野黨主席會面，但他應該無條件地這樣做。換句話說，3位主席應該能夠討論他們想要的任何主題，而不受總統府對會議形式或討論主題的限制。儘快舉行這樣的會議尤其重要，因爲立法院將開始審查中央政府提出的2026年預算。

二、呼籲結束網路側翼。最近，網路側翼在臺灣政治中的角色持續增長，像八炯和四叉貓這樣的網紅擁有許多追隨者，並且在批評他們不喜歡的人時非常激進。但他們是否對臺灣的政治討論有正面貢獻？他們是否有助於推動國家向前發展？

也許是時候讓賴清德公開呼籲終結網路側翼。在2019年民進黨總統初選中，賴清德挑戰現任總統蔡英文爭取2020年1月的民進黨總統提名。當時，賴清德批評了在初選中支持蔡英文並攻擊賴的網路側翼。賴清德非常明確地表示，初選君子之爭，請網軍停止攻擊。

三、取消「團結十講」的其餘部分。在7月26日的罷免投票前幾周，賴清德總統開始了一系列的「團結十講」，討論了中國對臺灣的威脅等主題。賴總統只發表了4次演講，然後就暫停了。演講的時機以及內容使得這些演講看起來偏向黨派，而非團結。隨着臺灣在罷免投票和核三公投後政治分裂，6次類似的演講不太可能團結臺灣。或許賴總統應該取消這些演講。

四、與川普政府達成貿易協議。團結臺灣的一種方式是賴政府與美國達成一項可以被視爲對臺灣有利的貿易協議。臺灣的資訊與通訊技術出口保持其優勢，並且可能不會受到美國提高關稅的影響。然而，臺灣的傳統產業和中小企業將難以與日本和南韓等國家競爭，因爲這些國家的美國關稅較低。

目前尚不清楚臺灣爲何花這麼長時間來達成與美國的關稅談判。這一延遲尤其奇怪，因爲在川普總統上任不久後，賴總統已經宣佈了臺灣願意達成的協議，包括農業、工業、石油和天然氣產品的採購計劃，以及武器採購。臺灣方面是否存在過多的官僚主義？是否有太多政府機構和部長想要發表意見？還是來自美國的不合理要求？無論問題是什麼原因，賴總統應該優先解決這個問題，並儘快行動。

五、慎選新內閣成員。最近幾天有許多關於內閣改組的報導。早在8月22日，數發部長已經辭職，返回中央研究院，而一位教育部副部長因在社交媒體上發表對性騷擾案件受害者個人信息的批評而辭職。在前總統蔡英文的第一任期於2016年5月20日開始後，她的第一次內閣改組在2017年9月，包括當時的行政院長林全辭職，並由賴清德接任。

在此時進行內閣改組並不奇怪，儘管賴總統的第一任期纔剛過15個多月。然而，賴總統必須確保任何新任部長能夠符合民衆的期望，能夠推動和執行良好的公共政策，並且不會被視爲僅僅是幫助民進黨在2026年11月地方選舉中表現良好的黨派人士。

後來擔任美國總統的亞伯拉罕·林肯1858年在一次演講中說過：「一個自相分爭之家必無法立足」。目前，臺灣確實是分裂的，中國正在密切關注這一點，因爲分裂的臺灣符合中國的目標；臺灣最重要的朋友美國也在關注這一點，因爲它不確定臺灣是否致力於自我防衛。現在是賴總統解決臺灣分裂問題的好時機。

（作者爲美國共和黨前亞太區主任）

Unifying Taiwan Post Recalls

By Ross Darrell Feingold

Former Asia Chairman, Republicans Abroad

X: @RossFeingold

Last month, this author wrote in the China Times about “President Lai’s Post-Referendum “To Do” List”, though the commentary was prepared before the disastrous recall failure for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on July 26.

On July 26, in what was an embarrassment for the civil society organizations which organized those recalls, and an embarrassment for the DPP led by President Lai who is DPP chairmen, which supported the recalls, all of the recalls against 24 Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang, or KMT) legislators failed. In addition, an attempt to recall the mayor of Hsinchu City Ann Kao, formerly a member of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) who is currently suspended from office while she appeals a corruption conviction, also failed on July 26.

On August 23, Taiwan again held recall votes, this time for seven KMT legislators. In addition, a national referendum was held on whether to extend the service life of the Number Three nuclear power plant (also known as the Maanshan nuclear power plant).

This author notes several disturbing events in Taiwan politics that President Lai should try to address following the recalls and referendum:

1. Ba Chiung Suggested Learning from Nazis: Ba Chiung is a social media influencer who inserted himself into the recall campaign with his videos that aggressively criticized KMT legislators and China. After the July 26 referendum failure, on August 4 one of his colleagues in the recall effort revealed that Ba Chiung had previously suggested using Nazi-like methods to gain public support for their recall efforts.

As a Jewish resident of Taiwan, this author was disgusted that Ba Chiung suggested using Nazi tactics, and this author thinks that Ba Chiung’s apology was insufficient.

Ba Chiung was not the first person in public life to make inappropriate references to the Holocaust era. Earlier this year, KMT Chairman Eric Chu compared to President Lai to Adolf Hitler, for which he was criticized by this author and criticized by the German Institute Taipei.

Taiwan’s politicians frequent use of Hitler and Nazis, whether to criticize their opponents or as an example to be followed, needs to stop. This brings negative international media attention to Taiwan (after the Ba Chiung incident, BBC published a long article about the many similar incidents in Taiwan).

More importantly, it has no place in a democratic society, and President Lai should publicly call on social media influencers, and politicians, cease making such references.

2. The Lanyu Water Delivery Incident: On August 20, Chen Sheng-wen, a young former DPP official in Taipei City and a former candidate for Taipei City council who lost election in 2022 (and might run for Taipei City council again in 2026), delivered to the KMT headquarters bottled water that days before, he had brought near a nuclear waste storage site on Lanyu. Chen shared his trip to Lanyu on social media, and when he visited KMT headquarters, he was accompanied by cameramen from several news media.

Unfortunately for Chen, KMT spokesperson Crystal Yang suddenly appeared, and willing drank one of the bottles of water that Chen brought with him. This incident was an embarrassment for Chen, the DPP, and opponents of nuclear power.

The water delivery incident will ultimately not have any effect on whether Taiwan uses nuclear energy in the future. However, it reduced an important public discussion over a crucial issue for Taiwan’s energy security, and national security, into a stunt for the news media.

The people of Taiwan deserve better from their politicians.

3. Si Cha Mao criticizes nationality of Huang Kuo-chang’s son: On August 21, the social media influencer Si Chao Mao publicized his speculation that TPP chairman Huang Kuo-chang’s minor son might be a United States citizen based on Si Cha Mao’s review of public records regarding property that Huang Kuo-chang transferred to someone who also has the surname Huang.

This author does not know Si Cha Mao’s motivation for making a politician’s child a subject of public discussion. Perhaps it is in response to periodic criticism that President Lai’s sons have lived in the United States.

However, there is a significant difference between the status of President Lai’s children, and Huang Kuo-chang’s children. President Lai’s children are adults, and Huang Kuo-chang’s children are minors.

Bringing the minor children of a politician is despicable behavior by Si Chao Mao, and should be criticized not just by the TPP, but also by the DPP.

These recent incidents have done terrible damage to Taiwan’s unity. President Lai has the opportunity to help unify Taiwan after this difficult period, and the following are several suggestions for how he can do so.

1. Attempt again to meet with the opposition party chairmen. President Lai previously offered to give a “national security briefing” to the KMT chairman and TPP chairman, however, the offer was rejected. Perhaps after the referendums, President Lai can again offer to meet the opposition party chairmen, but he should do it without conditions. In other words, the three chairmen should be able to discuss whatever topics they want, without rules imposed by the Presidential Office about the structure of the meeting or the topics that can be discussed. It is especially important to have such a meeting soon, because the Legislative Yuan will begin the review of the central government’s proposed 2026 budget.

2. Call for an end to online extremists. In recent times, the role of online extremists in Taiwan politics has continued to grow. Social media influencers like Ba Chiung and Si Chao Mao have many followers, and they are aggressive in criticizing those they dislike.

But do they contribute positively to political discussion in Taiwan? Do they help advance the country forward?

Perhaps it is time for President Lai to publicly call for an end to the online extremists. During the 2019 DPP presidential primary, Lai challenged incumbent president Tsai Ing-wen for the DPP presidential nomination in the January 2020 presidential election. At the time, Lai criticized the online extremists who supported Tsai in the primary and attacked Lai. Lai was very clear: He said that in a gentlemanly competition, the online attacks must stop.

3. Cancel the remainder of the “Ten Unity Speeches”. In the weeks prior to the July 26 recall votes, President Lai began a series of “ten unity speeches”, which discussed topics such as the threat to Taiwan from China. Lai only made four speeches before he paused making them. The timing of the speeches, as well as the content, made the speeches appear partisan and not unifying. With Taiwan politically divided after the recall votes and nuclear referendum, six more similar speeches are unlikely to unify Taiwan. Perhaps President Lai should cancel the remainder of these speeches.

4. Reach a trade agreement with the Trump administration. One way to unify Taiwan will be for the Lai government to reach a trade agreement with the United States on terms that can be viewed as good for Taiwan. Taiwan’s information and communication technology exports retain their advantages and might not be harmed (for now) by higher United States tariffs. However, Taiwan’s traditional industries, and small and medium enterprises, will find it difficult to compete with countries such Japan and South Korea that have lower United States tariffs.

It’s not clear what is taking Taiwan so long to reach a trade agreement with the United States. This delay is especially peculiar because earlier this year shortly after President Trump took office, President Lai announced what Taiwan was willing to agree to, including procurement plans for agricultural, industrial, petroleum, and natural gas products, as well as weapons procurement.

Is there too much bureaucracy on the Taiwan side? Too many government agencies and ministers that want to have input? Unreasonable demands from the United States? Whatever the issues are, President Lai should prioritize resolving this as soon as possible.

5. Carefully select new cabinet members. In recent days there are many reports about a potential cabinet reorganization. Already on August 22 the Minister of Digital Affairs resigned to return to Academia Sinica, and a Deputy Minister of Education resigned over criticism that he posted on social media the personal information of a sexual harassment case victim. After former President Tsai Ing-wen’s first term began on May 20, 2016, her first cabinet reorganization occurred in September 2017, including the resignation and replacement of then premier Lin Chuan who was replaced by Lai Ching-te.

A cabinet reorganization at this time would not be unusual, even though President Lai is only a little over 15 months into his first term. However, President Lai must ensure that any new ministers meet the expectations of the public, can promote and execute good public policy, and will not be seen as only partisans whose goal is to help the DPP do well in the November 2026 local elections.

In 1858, future United States President Abraham Lincoln famously said in a speech that "A house divided against itself, cannot stand." At the moment, Taiwan is certainly divided. China is watching this closely because a divided Taiwan is consistent with China’s goals. Taiwan’s most important friend, the United States, is also watching this, because it is unsure whether Taiwan is committed to defending itself. Now is a good time for President Lai to address Taiwan’s divisions.