Taiwan Official: KMT Was Just 'Younger Brother' to a 'Bigger Party'

Taiwan's Deputy Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council, Liang Wen-chieh, has expressed a profound shift in his political outlook, reflecting on the decades since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ended the Kuomintang's (KMT) one-party rule.

Thirty years ago, Liang recalled, the prevailing belief was that defeating the KMT would usher in happiness for Taiwan. However, he now feels that the KMT was merely a "younger brother" to a "bigger party" operating behind the scenes. This sentiment suggests a belief that a more significant, external force has been at play, influencing Taiwan's political landscape far beyond the KMT's influence.

Liang's reflections were prompted by the recent arrest of employees at an independent bookstore in Hong Kong. The arrests were reportedly linked to the sale of the book "Only Red Flowers Bloom." Liang had publicly supported the book, sharing a photo of a handcuffed employee and stating, "Freedom is like air; you only miss it when it's gone." He later expressed delight that the book had become a bestseller, urging people to buy it since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) prohibited its sale.

His comments about the "bigger party" came late at night, drawing significant attention online, with over 150,000 views and widespread discussion. This reflection on Taiwan's political journey and the perceived external influences comes as Liang himself faces separate controversy. Taiwan's People First Party Chairman, Huang Kuo-chang, has accused Liang of being drunk and requiring assistance from mainland China's Taiwan Affairs Office during a 2019 cross-strait forum when Liang was a Taipei city councilor.