A group of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) delegates are set to propose the adoption of a new party constitution that will focus on maintaining the cross-strait status quo. The delegates will bring their proposal before a party general assembly set to begin July 17.
The DPP currently controls the presidency and holds a majority in the Legislature. The party’s existing constitution includes Taiwan independence in its list of party goals, and the party is often described in foreign media as “pro-independence”. But one group within the party has been trying to replace clauses advocating independence since 2014. More than 30 delegates have voiced support for the change so far.
One delegate in support of the proposed change is Wu Tsu-chia, vice president of online news website my-formosa.com. Wu was involved in formulating a new proposed party constitution.
On Thursday, Wu told reporters that the proposed constitution has already been sent to the DPP’s central standing committee. Wu has also published an article on my-formosa.com that the party has a duty to be pragmatic and change with the times. Wu writes that the DPP needs to combine its founding principles and positions with President Tsai Ing-wen’s promise to the public that she will maintain the status quo.
Meanwhile on Thursday, DPP spokesperson Wang Min-sheng said that the party’s basic principle of allowing Taiwan’s people to jointly decide the country’s future will not change.