Chinese Unification Promotion Party Hopes To Gain in Taiwan's Local Elections
Taiwan’s local elections are usually fought on issues of daily governance, as relations with China take a back seat. But with many political parties putting cross-strait relations at the heart of their policy platforms, the issue of how to deal with Beijing is never far from the surface. That’s the case for the Chinese Unification Promotion Party, which is one of the very few parties in Taiwan advocating for unification under China’s preferred one country, two systems model.
Ed Moon (TaiwanPlus)
A clash with police on the streets of Taipei. For most politicians, it would be headline news. But for Chang An-le and his Chinese Unification Promotion Party, it’s just another day.
Taiwanese politics is roughly divided into two main camps, those who would prefer to remain separate from China. And a smaller number who would one day like to be part of China.
And then there are those on fringes like the Unification Promotion Party that want Taiwan to unify with the communist People’s Republic of China under a one-country-two-systems model, like Hong Kong. And it wants it as soon as possible.
It’s a position that’s far from the mainstream. Since democratizing in the 1990s, Taiwanese support for unification with China has dropped from a high of 22% in 1996 to just 6.4% this year.
The CUPP’s Chang is notorious in Taiwan for reasons other than pushing for unification.
He makes no secret of his background in organized crime – he spent 10 years in jail in the United States for drug trafficking. He’s known as the White Wolf – although the origin of that nickname is somewhat mundane.
Chang An-lo (Founder, CUPP)
I’ve got darker skin now but [when I joined the gang] I had very pale skin. This other guy had very dark skin so he was called Black Wolf and I was called White Wolf. It’s just a coincidence no special meaning.
Ed Moon (TaiwanPlus)
Chang was sent back to Taiwan after leaving prison – but he quickly got into trouble again for his links to organized crime. He fled Taiwan in 1996 for China. He wouldn’t return for almost 20 years. Now that he’s back, his focus is on pushing Taiwan into the arms of Beijing.
Chang An-lo (Founder, CUPP)
We founded the Chinese Unification Promotion Party to promote peaceful unification with China. Why? Because peaceful unification is the best way to guarantee Taiwanese people’s happiness.
Ed Moon (TaiwanPlus)
Despite little support for its ideas, Chang and his party have an outsized voice in Taiwan. That’s because of the regular protests they hold, criticizing Taiwan’s government…and its supporters in the West.
The party has never come close to winning seats in Taiwan’s national elections…but it has enjoyed some success at the local level. It currently has one elected neighborhood chief…and has hopes of gaining a county council seat in this November’s vote. It’s part of a strategy aimed at building grassroots support for the party’s goals.
Tseng Wan-ching (Miaoli Council Candidate CUPP)
Hello everyone. I am Miaoli County's fifth electoral district candidate number three, Tseng Wan-ching.
Ed Moon (TaiwanPlus)
Although Tseng spoke openly to TaiwanPlus about running as a candidate for the Unification Party – none of her campaign materials mention the party’s name. Tseng says her main concern is tackling drug abuse. But she needed some guidance on the question of China.
Tseng Wan-ching (Miaoli Council Candidate CUPP)
Peaceful cross-strait unification [as part of]… what republic?
Woman Off Screen
The People’s Republic of China.
Tseng Wan-ching (Miaoli Council Candidate CUPP)
Our economy isn’t strong enough to be independent. We need China. We need unification; I fully support unification. So I hope that I can be elected and tell locals that our party aren’t gangsters and that Mr. Chang is always happy to help people.
Dafydd Fell (SOAS, University of London)
It shows how unsuccessful they've been at trying to kind of win the hearts of Taiwanese voters despite all that spending and media attention.
Ed Moon (TaiwanPlus)
The party’s strong support for unification on China’s terms often leads to clashes with authorities ...and many question whether it is receiving Chinese money to fund its operations. That's a charge Chang denies…although he makes no secret of the fact that his aims match Beijing’s.
Chang An-lo (Founder, CUPP)
Taiwan passed a law called the Anti-Infiltration Law. I said, “I’m in bed with the CCP, come and charge me.” I believe in their ideas; I don’t need infiltration. Why am I in bed with the CCP? Because we’re on the same path.
Ed Moon (TaiwanPlus)
Political scientists say that so far, there’s little evidence to suggest Chang has persuaded many people. Despite spending big money on their 2016 legislative campaign, they ended up with only 0.4% of the national vote. But with Beijing determined to eventually bring Taiwan under its control, groups like Chang’s, which are sympathetic to that aim, are equally determined to persuade Taiwanese voters that their futures lies with China.
