Hsu Chih-jung: Identifying as Taiwanese or Chinese should not be a forced choice

Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Hsu Chih-jung asserted that the question of whether one identifies as Taiwanese or Chinese should not be framed as an either/or choice. Speaking to students from Dongshan High School, Hsu shared her life philosophy, emphasizing the importance of genuine commitment in all endeavors. She believes personal identity is naturally shaped by one's upbringing, family memories, and cultural ties, and this should remain separate from political party stances.

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Doing anything, you have to play for real, and what you achieve is what you gain.

Hsu drew from her own experience in student movements during her youth, stating that this period was the fundamental driving force behind her later political career. Her core belief remains consistent: to protect ordinary people's lives and ensure their basic dignity. She stressed that politics should serve human needs, not become a tool for manipulating interests, and her original intention was to safeguard people's security and provide opportunities for happiness.

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Whether identifying as Taiwanese or Chinese is related to political party stance and should not be forcibly twisted into a multiple-choice question.

Addressing recent societal debates on identity, Hsu reiterated that identifying as Taiwanese or Chinese arises from natural emotions linked to personal growth, family history, and cultural connections. She argued against forcing these feelings into a binary choice, stating that political stances should not dictate such personal affiliations. Hsu also commented on the definition of "Chinese civilization," suggesting that culture and civilization are the result of natural accumulation over centuries and should not be narrowly defined or manipulated.

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Culture and civilization are the results of natural accumulation over thousands of years and cannot be defined or manipulated in a narrow way.

She called for an end to political manipulation, urging the public to return to their authentic selves and natural emotions. Taiwan, she believes, should be a diverse and free society that allows individuals to explore their cultural roots in their own way, without succumbing to political pressure to provide "politically correct" answers. "Returning to people, returning to nature, that is what we should truly protect," Hsu concluded.

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Returning to people, returning to nature, that is what we should truly protect.