On Saturday (November 1), Kuomintang (KMT) Vice Chairman Sean Lien—of Taiwan's largest opposition party—officially stepped down. In his remarks, he said that in his four years as Vice Chairman, he fully experienced what it means to “survive in the cracks” and to “swallow broken teeth and blood.” From now on, the world is wide open, free for him to roam, and he can start living days of carefree pleasure.
Posting on Facebook, Sean Lien wrote that, on the day of the KMT National Congress when the certificate of election for party chairman was presented on stage, as he walked off the stage, he suddenly felt his shoulders lighten, as if a big lock clamped on his neck and shoulders was abruptly unlocked.
Lien said that in the first four years of the second half of his life, serving as KMT Vice Chairman, he hoped to repay the party that had once fostered him. During these four years, he also deeply understood what it was to “survive in the cracks,” and it also tempered his endurance to “swallow broken teeth with blood.” Especially when facing smears from media hacks in the pan-green camp and online trolls, he often had to endure humiliation and bear heavy responsibilities for the greater good. From now on, with the wide world before him and free to roam, he believes he can start days of thoroughly enjoying life.
Sean Lien expressed his gratitude to the many friends and seniors from all walks of life, who, undeterred by his increasingly thick-skinned nature, always lent a hand to the party at critical times; he also thanked many friends both inside and outside the party who offered encouragement and support during low points.
He also thanked Eric Chu, who just finished his term as KMT chairman, stating that Chu allowed him to witness and participate in many of the party's key moments. What impressed him most was that when Chu nominated this term’s legislators-at-large, he firmly upheld principles, eliminated any rumors of monetary transactions, and put forth the KMT's most outstanding at-large nominees in recent years—helping make the KMT the largest party in the Legislative Yuan, the youngest party, and one full of fighting spirit.
Lien stated, “I believe I have already fulfilled my duty to this party.” In the future, apart from taking care of family and friends, he will continue to support the old comrades in arms who have fought alongside him, for “the relationships forged in street battles will never be affected by changes in time and space.”
Finally, he noted that the new party chairperson, Lin Wei-chou, is also the second female chairperson in KMT history. He used the theme song “Golden” from the recently popular Netflix film K-Pop Demon Hunters to wish all those still fighting on the front lines: “We shall meet again someday.”