Taiwan Solidarity Union changes name to Taiwan Solidarity Party

Taipei, June 1 (CNA) The pro-independence Taiwan Solidarity Union (台灣團結聯盟) has officially changed its name to the Taiwan Solidarity Party (台聯黨), party Chairwoman Chou Ni-an (周倪安) said Sunday.

According to a public notice from the Taipei District Court released in May, Chou and members of her party had applied to change the political party's official name.

Chou confirmed on Sunday that the party approved the name change at its congress in December last year, adding that the process was only completed recently.

Chou explained that the party's original Chinese name was a bit of a mouthful, and that over the past 20 years, people in Taiwan have often referred to it simply as "Taiwan Union."

The name change is intended to usher in a fresh start, she said.

Chou said the party has stronger support in central and southern Taiwan, where many residents regard the late former President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) as its spiritual leader.

Following Lee's passing, many people mistakenly believed the party had disbanded or faded into obscurity, Chou told reporters. "But we are still here," she said.

She further explained that the word "union" in the party's former name sometimes led people to mistake it for a club or society, such as the Taiwan Nation Alliance or the Union of Taiwanese Teachers, rather than a political party.

The name change is a declaration that the party continues to serve the public under the legacy of Lee, Chou said.

"We don't want the public to miss the Taiwan Solidarity Party on the ballot," she said. "We will return to a state where we are recognizable to the people and continue to fight for Taiwan."

According to Chou, the party was founded 24 years ago with the goal of strengthening Taiwan and its economy.

As a party that puts Taiwan first, she said her party's platforms differ from those of the ruling party, including on salary issues.

For example, the Taiwan Solidarity Party advocates delinking the wages of local and foreign workers, providing separate protections for each, Chou said, adding that her party will continue to express these stances clearly in the future.