For their part, the KMT and its coalition (named for “Blue” one of the colors in the KMT flag) returned to a much more stance after Lee Teng-hui left the party “China-centric” following its defeat in the 2000 presidential election. According to the model developed by Yu-shan Wu, this represented a direct response to their electoral situation. During elections, Wu argues that the KMT acts like a catch-all party and appeals to moderate voters with centrist policies. Between elections when the party is out of power (as it was from 2000 to 2008), in contrast, it focuses its appeals on keeping the support of the pro-China Blues,” while acting in a more pragmatic “deep or manner when it controls the government. “realist” By the middle of the decade in the 21st century, therefore, a harsh and viciously divisive debate over Strait relations and national identity had come to dominate Taiwan’s politics. The Greens argued that they must up “stand for and accused the Blues of selling out to . In stark ” contrast, the Blues contended that the Greens were needlessly provocative and that a more accommodating policy could defuse the threat from . Taken to the extreme (which they often were), these positions implied that one side was the savior and the other the destroyer of and its statehood. Unfortunately, both critiques seem to have had some merit. President Chen’s periodic appeals to his pro-Independence constituency” for primarily “base
For their part, the KMT and its “Blue” coalition (named for one of the colors in the KMT flag) returned to a much more “China-centric” stance after Lee Teng-hui left the party following its defeat in the 2000 presidential election. According to the model developed by Yu-shan Wu, this represented a direct response to their electoral situation. During elections, Wu argues that the KMT acts like a catch-all party and appeals to moderate voters with centrist policies. Between elections when the party is out of power (as it was from 2000 to 2008), in contrast, it focuses its appeals on keeping the support of the pro-China “deep Blues,” while acting in a more pragmatic or “realist” manner when it controls the government. By the middle of the decade in the 21st century, therefore, a harsh and viciously divisive debate over relations and national identity had come to dominate Taiwan’s politics. The Greens argued that they must “stand up for ” and accused the Blues of selling out to . In stark contrast, the Blues contended that the Greens were needlessly provocative and that a more accommodating policy could defuse the threat from . Taken to the extreme (which they often were), these positions implied that one side was the savior and the other the destroyer of and its statehood. Unfortunately, both critiques seem to have had some merit. President Chen’s periodic appeals to his pro-Independence “base constituency” for primarily Strait
Clark,%20Cal%20and%20Tan,%20Alexander.docx