President Lai Ching-te spoke of "Taiwan's city on a hill" in his National Day speech yesterday. Xu Yuzhen, secretary-general of the KMT Legislative Yuan, said that Lai Ching-te said that the gates of the city on a hill should be freely open to the world, but he built high walls against domestic dissent and lacked concrete solutions to administrative and legislative deadlocks, people's livelihood difficulties and cross-strait crises. Is this city on a mountain a home where the people live and work, or is it a mirage of Lai Qingde's self-absorption?
Xu Yuzhen pointed out that Legislative President Han Kuo-yu gave a serious warning to Lai Qingde in person at the National Day Convention. If the confrontation between the executive and legislative chambers cannot be resolved, it will seriously harm Taiwan's democracy and even make the international community question Taiwan's "fake democracy and true dictatorship." Dean Han called on the government and the opposition to move toward progress through conflict and compromise, but Lai Qingde never proposed a specific negotiation plan.
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Xu Yuzhen recalled that on the 113th National Day, Lai Qingde also publicly thanked Han Guoyu and Executive Director Zhuo Rongtai for facilitating negotiations between the government and the opposition. Two years later, the negotiations have disappeared, and the confrontation has become more and more intense. Is unity just a line recited every National Day?
Xu Yuzhen criticized Lai Qingde for saying that the gates of the "city on the hill" should be freely open to the world, but he built high walls against different domestic opinions. The Executive Yuan refused to countersign the law to the third reading in Congress, triggering a major constitutional controversy, but the president failed to promote effective dialogue. The pattern of a president does not lie in how many high walls he builds, but in how many doors he is willing to open to people with different opinions. Democracy is not about monopolizing the country by winning elections, and unity is not about requiring the opposition parties to obey the DPP.
Xu Yuzhen said that Lai Qingde boasted that the economic growth rate is expected to exceed 11%, but avoided the increasingly serious K-shaped differentiation of Taiwan's economy. The AI and semiconductor industries are making impressive profits, but traditional industries are under pressure from tariffs, exchange rates, and costs. The stock market has hit highs, but many salaried families are still squeezed by high prices and housing prices. The government announced a growth allowance for children aged 0 to 18, but failed to explain clearly the long-term financial resources and legal protection; it promoted the fruits of a shared economy, but was unwilling to respond directly to the Kuomintang League's proposal of a universal distribution of NT$20,000 per person. Economic growth is the result of the hard work of all the people, not the president's personal self-promotion.
Xu Yuzhen further pointed out that the "city on a hill" originated from the historical discussion of Puritan leader Winthrop in 1630, and later became an important symbol of American politics. Winthrop reminded leaders of humility, and Reagan described America as a "shining city on a hill" open to the world. Citing this allusion, Lai Ching-te should answer: "When Congress and the President have different opinions, is he willing to practice the democracy he declares with the same humility and openness?" If the city gate is only open to the international community but closed to domestic dissidents, no matter how gorgeous the democratic vision is, it will not stand the test of reality.
Xu Yuzhen emphasized that Lai Qingde would like to see the United States and China manage competition through dialogue, but did not propose a specific path to restore cross-strait communication. While strengthening national defense is important, reducing miscalculation and maintaining communication are equally indispensable. Political differences cannot be used as an excuse to refuse dialogue.
Xu Yuzhen called on Lai Qingde to immediately invite the government and the opposition to conduct substantive dialogue and consultation, prioritize constitutional disputes, people's livelihood bills and budget issues, and establish a continuous dialogue mechanism. Stop talking without practicing! What the people want is to live and work in peace and contentment, not a political psychedelic dream; what the people want is reconciliation between the government and the opposition, not confrontation with high walls. Please use your actions to prove that your "city on the top of the mountain" is not an empty city with only slogans and no people.
