My translation of a Nikkeinet article.
“I even like sashimi” Taiwan’s KMT party secretary denies being “anti-Japan” to media
“Reports that the KMT walks lockstep with the mainland (China) in their anti-Japan campaign do not reflect my real feelings. I even love sashimi!” On the 10th Ma Ying Jiu (mayor of Taipei), chairman of the KMT[Chinese Nationalist Party], Taiwan’s largest opposition party, assembled Japanese reporters resident in Taipei and issued a denial of the viewpoint that he was himself a believer in anti-Japan ideology.
There are indications that the KMT has been intensifying their anti-Japan tendencies, such as stressing their own role in the Sino/Japanese war. “We criticize even the white terror (of KMT despotic rule) and (China’s) Tainanmen incident from the same basis of human rights and constutituional government. There’s no reason to make an issue out of only Japan,” Chairman Ma Ying Jiu said.
However, “I do not approve of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s Yasukuni Shrine visits,” he said, not forgetting that stab in the neck. Ma Ying Jiu is currently considered the favorite to win in Taiwan’s next presidential election.
Doesn’t the “but, I like sashimi defense” have the same ring to it as, “but I have so many black friends” or “but Jews are so funny”? I’m amazed that this is the best that Ma could come up with.
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February 11th, 2006 at 4:52 am
I think the KMT is just not pro-Jap but not anti-Jap. But his reason was supremely weak.
February 11th, 2006 at 5:47 pm
I concur, the KMT is only anti-Japanese when compared to DPP quislings.
February 12th, 2006 at 2:00 am
I gotta go with Jing on this one. There are plenty of anti-Japanese old mainlanders as individuals, but the KMT as a party has no real anti-Japanese position.
Michael
February 12th, 2006 at 4:26 am
Can’t wait for A Bian’s speech to appease China : “I even like Beijing Duck”
February 12th, 2006 at 4:57 am
I don’t want to make it sound like I think the KMT or Ma Ying Jiuhas an anti-Japan agenda, just that Ma’s attempt at trying to persuade people that he doesn’t was rather pathetic.