Pro-Taiwan Groups Hold Forum to Review DPP's 10-Year Rule, Aiming to Forge Future Direction
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- 📰 Published: May 17, 2026 at 19:56
- 🔍 Collected: May 17, 2026 at 20:01 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 17, 2026 at 20:08 (6 min after Collected)
(CNA, Taipei, 17th) Pro-Taiwan independence groups held a forum today to review the policy implementation and challenges of the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) decade in power, hoping to build consensus on future actions. Scholars suggested that to overcome the predicament of a minority government, Taiwan must face its constitutional crisis, increase communication with society, and recognize that in the next decade of US-China confrontation, Taiwan's voice and status will derive from its technological and economic strength.
The 'Decade 2016-2026: A General Review of the Pro-Taiwan Administration' forum was jointly organized by the World United Formosans for Independence, Taiwan Association for National Security, Modern Culture Foundation, and several other organizations.
Professor Hsueh Hua-yuan, president of the Taiwan Association of University Professors, pointed out that China's rise has increased the difficulty for Taiwan to exist as a sovereign and independent nation internationally. However, he noted that since the era of former President Lee Teng-hui, Taiwan held its first direct presidential election in 1996 and became a free country, with its freedom and democracy indicators remaining advanced in Asia. Yet, the fundamental values of Taiwan's democratic constitution have not been deeply rooted and face difficulties in deepening.
Regarding the challenge of a minority government, Hsueh stated that freedom of speech and misinformation in the new era have created internal tensions. Combined with Taiwan's failure to grasp the fundamental values of democratic constitutionalism, the constitutional crisis continues and worsens, highlighting a severe lack of checks and balances and defense mechanisms. Economically, despite government policies and high economic growth, the country faces issues of corporate disparity and income distribution.
Chen Nan-tien, chairman of the World United Formosans for Independence, stated that in the next decade, Taiwan must have the will to become an independent country, break through the 'one-China framework' at the constitutional and national title level, eradicate internal sabotage, and strengthen the defense resilience of the entire society, ensuring that politics do not hinder national defense autonomy.
Lo Cheng-tsung, president of the Taiwan Forever Association, pointed out that during the DPP's eight years of full majority rule, many name-rectification tasks, such as removing the KMT emblem from within the Presidential Office, were not done. He suggested that the current minority government should learn from the 'on-site' spirit of the Lee Teng-hui era, personally visiting the countryside to better understand public opinion.
On US-Taiwan relations, former AIT Director William A. Stanton stated that Washington has consistently opposed any unilateral change to the status quo by either side. He noted that US President Trump views Taiwan as a key strategic partner and 'a card' to check China. While Trump increased the frequency and level of arms sales and lifted self-imposed restrictions on high-level official visits, his second term has treated the Taiwan issue with a transactional framework, linking defense to the semiconductor economy, while also presenting strategic uncertainty.
Stanton also pointed out that Chinese President Xi Jinping's policy towards Taiwan has shifted from 'peaceful development' to a more aggressive, urgent hardline stance, making 'forced unification' a key metric of political success.
Discussing economic resilience, Roy Lee, director of the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research's Center for Economic and Legal Studies, said that over the past 80 years, Taiwan has benefited every time the world economy has decoupled or fragmented. The past decade of DPP rule has been a decade of subverted globalization, but Taiwan has indeed seized opportunities.
Regarding Taiwan's future strategy, Lee believes it must maximize opportunities and minimize risks. The bifurcation of globalization is a strategic opportunity for Taiwan. As the US and Chinese economies become less integrated, how Taiwan interacts with the EU and ASEAN to find its space will be crucial. He added that Taiwan's economic security depends on its competitiveness, economic resilience, and economic autonomy. In the next decade of US-China confrontation, Taiwan's voice and status will come from its technological and economic strength.
The 'Decade 2016-2026: A General Review of the Pro-Taiwan Administration' forum was jointly organized by the World United Formosans for Independence, Taiwan Association for National Security, Modern Culture Foundation, and several other organizations.
Professor Hsueh Hua-yuan, president of the Taiwan Association of University Professors, pointed out that China's rise has increased the difficulty for Taiwan to exist as a sovereign and independent nation internationally. However, he noted that since the era of former President Lee Teng-hui, Taiwan held its first direct presidential election in 1996 and became a free country, with its freedom and democracy indicators remaining advanced in Asia. Yet, the fundamental values of Taiwan's democratic constitution have not been deeply rooted and face difficulties in deepening.
Regarding the challenge of a minority government, Hsueh stated that freedom of speech and misinformation in the new era have created internal tensions. Combined with Taiwan's failure to grasp the fundamental values of democratic constitutionalism, the constitutional crisis continues and worsens, highlighting a severe lack of checks and balances and defense mechanisms. Economically, despite government policies and high economic growth, the country faces issues of corporate disparity and income distribution.
Chen Nan-tien, chairman of the World United Formosans for Independence, stated that in the next decade, Taiwan must have the will to become an independent country, break through the 'one-China framework' at the constitutional and national title level, eradicate internal sabotage, and strengthen the defense resilience of the entire society, ensuring that politics do not hinder national defense autonomy.
Lo Cheng-tsung, president of the Taiwan Forever Association, pointed out that during the DPP's eight years of full majority rule, many name-rectification tasks, such as removing the KMT emblem from within the Presidential Office, were not done. He suggested that the current minority government should learn from the 'on-site' spirit of the Lee Teng-hui era, personally visiting the countryside to better understand public opinion.
On US-Taiwan relations, former AIT Director William A. Stanton stated that Washington has consistently opposed any unilateral change to the status quo by either side. He noted that US President Trump views Taiwan as a key strategic partner and 'a card' to check China. While Trump increased the frequency and level of arms sales and lifted self-imposed restrictions on high-level official visits, his second term has treated the Taiwan issue with a transactional framework, linking defense to the semiconductor economy, while also presenting strategic uncertainty.
Stanton also pointed out that Chinese President Xi Jinping's policy towards Taiwan has shifted from 'peaceful development' to a more aggressive, urgent hardline stance, making 'forced unification' a key metric of political success.
Discussing economic resilience, Roy Lee, director of the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research's Center for Economic and Legal Studies, said that over the past 80 years, Taiwan has benefited every time the world economy has decoupled or fragmented. The past decade of DPP rule has been a decade of subverted globalization, but Taiwan has indeed seized opportunities.
Regarding Taiwan's future strategy, Lee believes it must maximize opportunities and minimize risks. The bifurcation of globalization is a strategic opportunity for Taiwan. As the US and Chinese economies become less integrated, how Taiwan interacts with the EU and ASEAN to find its space will be crucial. He added that Taiwan's economic security depends on its competitiveness, economic resilience, and economic autonomy. In the next decade of US-China confrontation, Taiwan's voice and status will come from its technological and economic strength.