My Take on Election Grandstanding: Should Candidates Sign the 'No-Surrender Pledge'?

With Taiwan’s local nine-in-one elections fast approaching, local political advocacy groups launched a campaign demanding that all political candidates sign a “No-Surrender Pledge.” They insisted that candidates pledge an unwavering commitment to defending national sovereignty and promise never to advocate, through words or deeds, for surrender, non-resistance, or peace talks with the enemy.

During a Taipei City Council plenary interrogation on September 7, independent councilor Lin Ying-meng pressed Mayor Ko Wen-je to sign the absolute no-surrender pledge initiated by the World United Formosans for Independence. Mayor Ko fired back furiously from the podium, retorting: “Who cares if you die!”

In response, Lin criticized Ko, questioning how anyone unwilling to defend national sovereignty could ever aspire to be the President of the Republic of China. Ko continued his counterattack the next day, stating that he would firmly push back against opportunist councilors looking to stir trouble, pointedly asking whether Lin herself would dare sign a pledge promising never to fraudulently claim public assistant subsidies.

Whenever critical elections arrive, eccentric political figures inevitably emerge seeking the spotlight through cheap, theatrical emotional blackmail.

Why don’t we ever see these advocates demand that civil servants—especially top officials across the Presidential Office, the Executive Yuan, and the Legislative Yuan—sign an “Oath to Not Flee Abroad with Family During Wartime and Enlist Eligible Direct Descendants into Combat”?

What Exactly Does “Absolute Non-Surrender” Mean?

One must ask: what degree of absolutism is meant by “absolute non-surrender”? Is it merely an empty slogan shouted on the campaign trail, or does it mean unwavering resistance when enemy troops stand before you with blades held to your throat?

Those coercing candidates into signing petitions must provide an open, concrete definition; otherwise, it degrades into nothing more than an opportunistic campaign stunt.

In reality, handling such coerced signature campaigns is straightforward—there is no need to lose one’s temper.

The candidate pressured to sign simply needs to hand back an “Unconditional Donation Agreement” on the spot.

Shouting “You sign, I sign!” before embracing warmly—wouldn’t such a political landscape be far more delightful?

As for the donation amount, it should be calibrated according to how unreasonable the petitioner’s demand is. For instance, if an absolute refusal to surrender demands laying down one’s life, a donation of one hundred million New Taiwan Dollars seems quite fitting.

On behalf of underprivileged communities across Taiwan, I would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to Councilor Lin Ying-meng in advance.