2023-03-29
DPP: KMT Intentionally Twisted the Words of AIT Director Oudkirk and Embarrassed Itself
Regarding the KMT’s misquoting of AIT Director Sandra Oudkirk in a recent interview, and accusing DPP of “suppressing disagreement” and being a “troublemaker,” DPP Spokesperson and Director of International Affairs Department Peifen Hsieh said today (29) that the KMT is purposely distorting Oudkirk’s words, not only missing the main point of her speech, but also making a fool of itself in the process. Spokesperson Hsieh said that the KMT should reflect on its recent conduct, and learn to distinguish between clarifying information, debating issues, and suppressing freedom of speech, in order to avoid such embarrassment in the future.
Spokesperson Hsieh recalled that the DPP has resisted KMT authoritarian rule since its founding, and has never stopped defending freedom of speech in Taiwan. In its 2023 Freedom in the World Report published earlier this month, Freedom House continued to classify Taiwan as a “free” country, scoring 94/100 points, the second highest in Asia, and earning the pride and admiration of the people. The Taiwanese government’s protection of freedom of speech has been internationally recognized; how, then, can it be suppressing freedom of speech?
Spokesperson Hsieh emphasized that Oudkirk has said that her job is to try her best to make the necessary clarifications. Hsieh does not know whether KMT intentionally misquoted Oudkirk’s speech, or simply misunderstood it. Either way, Hsieh was astonished that KMT was able to find a way to link Director Oudkirk’s words to the DPP suppressing freedom of speech.
Spokesperson Hsieh further stated that during the interview, Oudkirk clearly indicated that news regarding America's plan to evacuate its citizens in the event of invasion, or plans for the “destruction” of Taiwan, was false. In regards to TSMC investing in establishing factories in the U.S., potentially leading to the “hollowing out” of Taiwan, Oudkirk said that she does not believe TSMC factories in the U.S. will make the company any less valuable to Taiwan. Hsieh said that the points Oudkirk refuted just so happened to be the same arguments being pushed by KMT in recent months. For example, not long ago former KMT legislator Alex Tsai gleefully declared that the White House has a plan to “destroy Taiwan.” Despite clarification from AIT, the KMT has yet failed to reflect on its recent actions and words.
Spokesperson Hsieh further recalled Oudkirk's words in the interview: “We view Taiwan as a partner, not as a problem that needs to be solved…and a partner that brings a lot to the table. It really is a true statement when we say that Taiwan is a model of democracy and a force for good in the world… The bipartisan, bicameral, and legislative branch consensus on Taiwan is unprecedented… It's the first time in my decades of foreign policy experience that I’ve seen this level of policy coherence and policy agreement.” Hsieh said that KMT ignores the friendship towards Taiwan of the U.S. and other international friends, and that KMT only cares about politics, not the national interest, which is why they misinterpret diplomatic signals.
As President Tsai Ing-wen left today(29) on a visit to Taiwan's allies in Central America with a stopover in the U.S., fighting for diplomacy for Taiwan, Peifen Hsieh offered the KMT a piece of advice: KMT will continue to make a fool of itself until it stops defending the U.S. skeptism and starts to develop a better understanding of the international situation.
