以民主实践推动中国宪政转型
在野党记者：缪青报道
【旧金山讯】2026年10月15日，中国民主党全国委员会夏威夷支部日前举行换届选举，张小驹当选新一届支部主任，王礼华当选副主任。本次选举共有16名党员参加，其中8人现场投票、8人通过远程方式投票。选举采取自主报名、无记名投票的方式进行，由中国民主党洛杉矶地委选举委员会主任杨皓担任监票人。
此次换届不仅是支部负责人的正常交接，也是在海外中国民主运动持续探索组织建设、民主实践与政治理念传播的背景下，一次具有现实意义的组织更新。
中国民主党夏威夷支部换届选举现场
一、民主不能只停留在口号：从支部换届看海外民主实践
因家庭原因，原支部主任孟家虎在会上正式提出辞职。与会党员对其任职期间在凝聚党员、组织活动及维持支部日常运作等方面所作的努力表示感谢，并祝愿其家庭顺利。
在听取辞职说明后，支部按照相关章程开展负责人选举。经过自主报名、党员投票和监票计票等程序，张小驹当选支部主任，王礼华当选副主任。
从候选人产生到无记名投票，从监票到计票，这些看似日常的组织程序，却体现着民主政治的一项基本原则：权力应当通过规则产生，并受到程序约束；组织负责人应当接受成员的选择，而不是依靠个人意志决定职位归属。
对于长期以结束一党专政、建立宪政民主为政治目标的中国民主党而言，民主不仅是未来中国应当建立的制度，也是海外民主人士在现实组织生活中需要不断实践的原则。
选举结束后，张小驹表示，感谢全体党员的信任与支持。他将认真履行职责，推动支部在组织建设、党员联络、民主理念宣传以及公共活动等方面进一步发展，并继续加强与海内外民主人士的交流。
新一届负责人也表示，将加强内部沟通与团结，按照支部章程和相关制度开展工作，使组织运作更加规范、透明，并增强支部的凝聚力与行动能力。
二、从香港走向中国民主议题：一段个人思想启蒙的历程
换届选举结束后，《在野党》记者缪青对新当选的夏威夷支部主任张小驹进行了视频专访。谈及自己为何走上关注中国民主问题的道路，张小驹将个人思想发生重要变化的起点，追溯到2010年至2013年在香港求学的经历。
张小驹回忆，在香港期间，他通过互联网以及香港有关“六四”历史的公共纪念和教育渠道，逐渐了解到1989年“六四”事件的更多信息。这段经历使他开始重新审视自己过去对中国历史和政治现实的认识，也成为他思考民主、自由与人权问题的重要起点。
他说，在中国大陆，信息来源和公共讨论空间存在诸多限制；到了香港，他才有机会通过不同渠道接触中国近现代历史，并开始思考个人自由、公民权利与政治制度之间的关系。
此后，香港社会的发展始终牵动着他的关注。从2014年的雨伞运动，到2019年的反修例运动，他持续观察香港社会对自由、民主、法治和人权的诉求，并通过捐款等方式支持香港的公民社会组织和民主团体，包括香港支联会、香港众志。
在张小驹看来，香港问题并非孤立存在。香港的政治前途、中国大陆的民主转型以及台湾的安全与发展，都与整个大中华地区的政治格局密切相关。
他特别提到，流亡海外的香港社运人士罗冠聪等人提出的“香港约章”倡议，也促使他进一步思考香港民主运动与中国民主转型之间的联系。
张小驹认为，只有推动中国政治制度实现根本性转型，结束一党长期垄断政治权力的格局，建立具有宪政保障的民主制度，人民的基本权利才可能获得更加可靠的制度保障，香港的自由、民主与法治才有机会得到真正恢复和维护。
他同时指出，这条道路不可能一蹴而就，需要长期的思想启蒙、理性交流和社会参与，也需要一代又一代人的持续努力。
三、民主不仅是选举，更是对权力的约束
谈到自己对中国民主的理解，张小驹表示，随着学习、观察和参与的不断深入，他对民主的认识也在逐步发展。
“最初接触民主、人权这些议题的时候，我更多是从个人对自由、反对独裁专制的朴素追求出发。随着这些年不断学习、观察和参与，我越来越认识到，民主并不只是一次选举，也不仅仅是政权更替，而是一整套制度建设和社会共识。”
他认为，宪政、法治、权力制衡、公民权利以及对不同意见的包容，都是民主制度不可或缺的组成部分。仅仅更换执政者，而没有建立约束权力的制度，并不能保证一个社会真正实现民主。
张小驹以台湾的民主发展为例，认为台湾已经形成的民主选举和宪政实践，为华人社会提供了重要的观察与研究案例。台湾的经验表明，华人社会同样能够通过制度建设、选举竞争和公共参与，探索符合自身社会条件的民主治理道路。
他强调，中国民主转型不仅关系到中国大陆人民的政治权利，也关系到香港、台湾以及整个大中华地区的长远发展。真正持久的台海和平，应当建立在尊重自由、民主、法治和人民自主选择的基础之上。
对于海外民主人士的责任，张小驹提出了三个重点：第一，坚持记录和表达，在相对自由的环境中向外界传递中国社会的真实声音；第二，加强彼此之间的沟通与合作，减少不必要的内耗；第三，持续向国际社会介绍中国的政治现实，传播宪政、法治和公民社会理念。
在他看来，海外民运的价值不仅在于眼前能够组织多少活动，更在于能否长期保存独立思考的空间，持续积累民主转型所需要的思想资源、社会联系和公共意识。
他表示，无论未来中国政治形势如何变化，海外民主人士都应当坚持自由、人权、宪政与民主的基本信念，同时保持理性、开放和包容，为中国未来实现和平、自由的政治转型做好长期准备。
记者视频采访民主党夏威夷支部主任张小驹
四、上任后的三项重点：团结组织、培养民主素养、走进华人社区
加强支部内部团结与沟通
对于当选后的工作安排，张小驹表示，这既是党员给予的信任，也意味着必须承担相应的责任。他将把加强支部内部团结与沟通作为首要任务，并计划定期举办支部辩论会。
培养民主素养
张小驹认为，一个民主组织不能只在外部批评专制，也应当在内部形成尊重规则、容纳异议和依照制度办事的习惯。只有组织内部具备相应的民主素养，才能更有说服力地向社会介绍民主制度的价值。
加强支部与夏威夷华人社区的联系
夏威夷拥有多元的族群构成和华人社区。张小驹希望通过讲座、座谈、文化交流等适当方式，让更多华人了解民主、宪政、人权和法治理念，并鼓励华人积极参与当地社会公共事务。
他同时提出，海外华人社区应当警惕跨国政治影响以及不当干预。华人社团、商会和文化组织本应服务社区、联络乡情、促进交流，不应成为任何政治力量操纵海外华人社会的工具。
他希望，夏威夷支部今后能够进一步走进华人社区，通过持续、公开和理性的交流，让更多人理解美国民主社会所强调的公民权利、法治原则与公共参与，并积极融入当地社会。
五、从组织建设出发，为中国民主转型积累力量
中国民主党全国委员会夏威夷支部此次换届，为支部下一阶段的工作开启了新的起点。
对张小驹而言，当选支部主任不仅意味着承担组织事务，也意味着需要把个人对自由与民主的追求，转化为持续的公共行动。他所提出的支部内部辩论、民主素养培养以及华人社区交流等计划，体现了他对海外民主运动的一种理解：民主理念既需要公开表达，也需要通过具体制度和日常实践加以落实。
从这个意义上说，一次支部换届的价值，不仅在于选出了新的负责人，更在于能否以公开、公平的程序为基础，建立稳定的组织机制，形成持续参与公共事务的能力。
中国未来的民主转型仍有很长的道路要走。对于身处海外的中国民主人士而言，坚持表达、记录历史、传播理念、建设组织，并在实践中尊重民主规则，都是这一长期进程中的重要组成部分。
夏威夷支部此次完成换届，能否进一步转化为组织活力与社区影响力，仍有待今后的实际工作检验。但对一个以民主为目标的政治组织来说，真正重要的，始终是能否把民主从政治口号转化为日常实践，并在长期坚持中为中国的自由与宪政未来积累力量。
在野党记者缪青撰稿10/12/26
编辑：周志刚 校对：王滨 翻译：戈冰
The Hawaii Chapter of the National Committee of the Democratic Party of China Completes Leadership Re-election
Promoting China’s Constitutional Transition Through Democratic Practice Reporter from the Opposition Party: Miao Qing
Abstract: The Hawaii Chapter of the National Committee of the Democratic Party of China has completed its leadership re-election, with Zhang Xiaoju serving as Chairman and Wang Lihua as Vice Chairman. The new leadership team will strengthen internal unity, cultivate democratic literacy, expand exchanges within the Chinese community, and promote China’s constitutional transition through daily practice.
[San Francisco] On October 15, 2026, the Hawaii Chapter of the National Committee of the Democratic Party of China held a leadership re-election, in which Zhang Xiaoju was elected as the new Chapter Chairman and Wang Lihua was elected as Vice Chairman. A total of 16 party members participated in this election, among whom 8 voted in person and 8 voted via remote methods. The election was conducted through self-nomination and secret-ballot voting, with Yang Hao, Chairman of the Election Committee of the Los Angeles Regional Committee of the Democratic Party of China, serving as the vote supervisor.
This leadership change is not only a routine handover of chapter leaders, but also an organizational renewal of practical significance against the backdrop of the overseas Chinese democracy movement’s continuous exploration of organizational building, democratic practice, and the dissemination of political philosophy.
Scene from the Leadership Re-election of the Hawaii Chapter of the Democratic Party of China
I. Democracy Cannot Merely Remain a Slogan: Observing Overseas Democratic Practice Through a Chapter Leadership Re-election
Due to family reasons, the former Chapter Chairman Meng Jiahu officially tendered his resignation at the meeting. The participating party members expressed their gratitude for his efforts during his tenure in uniting party members, organizing activities, and maintaining the daily operations of the chapter, and wished his family well.
After hearing the explanation regarding the resignation, the chapter conducted the election for leadership in accordance with the relevant articles of association. Following procedures such as self-nomination, party member voting, vote supervision, and vote counting, Zhang Xiaoju was elected as Chapter Chairman and Wang Lihua as Vice Chairman.
From the emergence of candidates to secret-ballot voting, and from vote supervision to vote counting, these seemingly routine organizational procedures embody a fundamental principle of democratic politics: power should originate from rules and be constrained by procedure; organizational leaders should accept the choice of members rather than relying on personal will to determine office tenure.
For the Democratic Party of China, which has long taken ending one-party dictatorship and establishing constitutional democracy as its political goal, democracy is not only a system that future China ought to establish, but also a principle that overseas pro-democracy figures need to continuously practice in their actual organizational life.
After the election concluded, Zhang Xiaoju expressed his gratitude for the trust and support of all party members. He stated that he will conscientiously fulfill his duties, promote the chapter’s further development in organizational building, party member liaison, the dissemination of democratic concepts, and public events, and continue to strengthen exchanges with pro-democracy figures at home and abroad.
The newly elected leadership also stated that they will strengthen internal communication and unity, and carry out their work in accordance with the chapter’s articles of association and relevant systems, thereby making organizational operations more standardized and transparent, as well as enhancing the chapter’s cohesion and capacity for action.
II. Moving from Hong Kong to Chinese Democratic Issues: A Journey of Personal Intellectual Enlightenment
Following the conclusion of the leadership re-election, The Opposition Party reporter Miao Qing conducted an exclusive video interview with the newly elected Chairman of the Hawaii Chapter, Zhang Xiaoju. Speaking on why he embarked on the path of concerning himself with issues of Chinese democracy, Zhang Xiaoju traced the starting point of the major shift in his personal thinking back to his experience studying in Hong Kong from 2010 to 2013.
Zhang Xiaoju recalled that while in Hong Kong, through the Internet as well as public commemoration and educational channels concerning the history of “June 4th” in Hong Kong, he gradually learned more information about the 1989 “June 4th” Incident [June Fourth Tiananmen Square Incident]. This experience led him to begin re-examining his past understanding of Chinese history and political reality, and it also served as an important starting point for his reflections on issues of democracy, freedom, and human rights.
He said that in Mainland China, there are numerous restrictions on information sources and public space for discussion; only upon arriving in Hong Kong did he have the opportunity to access modern and contemporary Chinese history through diverse channels, and begin pondering the relationship between individual freedom, civil rights, and political systems.
Thereafter, the development of Hong Kong society constantly commanded his attention. From the 2014 Umbrella Movement to the 2019 Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement, he continuously observed Hong Kong society’s demands for freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, and supported Hong Kong’s civil society organizations and pro-democracy groups—including the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China and Demosistō—through means such as donations.
In Zhang Xiaoju’s view, the Hong Kong issue does not exist in isolation. The political future of Hong Kong, the democratic transition of Mainland China, and the security and development of Taiwan are all closely interconnected with the political landscape of the entire Greater China region.
He specifically mentioned that the “2021 Hong Kong Charter” initiative put forward by exiled Hong Kong social activists such as Nathan Law also prompted him to further reflect on the link between Hong Kong’s democracy movement and China’s constitutional democratic transition.
Zhang Xiaoju believes that only by promoting a fundamental transition in China’s political system, ending the long-term monopoly on political power by a single party, and establishing a democratic system with constitutional guarantees can the fundamental rights of the people obtain more reliable institutional safeguards, and can Hong Kong’s freedom, democracy, and rule of law have the opportunity to be genuinely restored and maintained.
He simultaneously pointed out that this path cannot be accomplished in a single bound; it requires long-term intellectual enlightenment, rational exchanges, and social participation, as well as the continuous efforts of generation after generation.
III. Democracy Is Not Merely Elections, But More Importantly the Constraint of Power
Speaking on his understanding of Chinese democracy, Zhang Xiaoju stated that as his study, observation, and participation have continually deepened, his perception of democracy has also progressively developed.
“When I first came into contact with issues like democracy and human rights, I proceeded more from a naive personal pursuit of freedom and opposition to dictatorship and autocracy. As I have continued learning, observing, and participating over these years, I have increasingly realized that democracy is not merely a single election, nor is it just a turnover of political power, but rather a whole system of institutional building and social consensus.”
He believes that constitutionalism, the rule of law, checks and balances on power, civil rights, and tolerance for differing opinions are all indispensable components of a democratic system. Merely replacing rulers without establishing a system to constrain power cannot guarantee that a society will genuinely realize democracy.
Citing Taiwan’s democratic development as an example, Zhang Xiaoju considers that the democratic elections and constitutional practices already formed in Taiwan have provided an important case for observation and research in Chinese-speaking societies. Taiwan’s experience demonstrates that Chinese-speaking societies are equally capable of exploring a path of democratic governance suited to their own social conditions through institutional building, electoral competition, and public participation.
He emphasized that China’s democratic transition not only concerns the political rights of the people in Mainland China, but also concerns the long-term development of Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the entire Greater China region. A genuinely lasting peace across the Taiwan Strait ought to be built upon a foundation that respects freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and the autonomous choices of the people.
Regarding the responsibilities of overseas pro-democracy figures, Zhang Xiaoju proposed three key priorities: first, persist in recording and speaking out, conveying the authentic voices of Chinese society to the outside world within a relatively free environment; second, strengthen communication and cooperation among one another to reduce unnecessary internal friction; third, continuously introduce China’s political reality to the international community, while disseminating the concepts of constitutionalism, the rule of law, and civil society.
In his view, the value of the overseas Chinese democracy movement lies not only in how many activities can be organized in the short term, but even more in whether it can preserve a space for independent thinking over the long haul, continuously accumulating the intellectual resources, social networks, and civic consciousness required for a democratic transition.
He expressed that no matter how the political situation in China changes in the future, overseas pro-democracy figures ought to adhere to the fundamental convictions of freedom, human rights, constitutionalism, and democracy, while remaining rational, open, and inclusive, thereby making long-term preparations for China to achieve a peaceful and free political transition in the future.
Reporter’s Video Interview with Zhang Xiaoju, Chairman of the Hawaii Chapter of the Democratic Party
IV. Three Major Priorities Upon Taking Office: Strengthening Organizational Unity, Cultivating Democratic Literacy, and Reaching Out to the Chinese Community
Strengthening Chapter Internal Unity and Communication
Regarding his work arrangements upon taking office, Zhang Xiaoju stated that while this represents the trust bestowed by party members, it also signifies that he must assume the corresponding responsibilities. He will make strengthening internal unity and communication within the chapter his primary task, and plans to host regular chapter debate sessions.
Cultivating Democratic Literacy
Zhang Xiaoju believes that a democratic organization cannot merely criticize autocracy externally; it should also foster habits within itself of respecting rules, accommodating dissent, and acting in accordance with established systems. Only when an organization possesses the corresponding democratic literacy internally can it introduce the values of a democratic system to society with greater persuasiveness.
Strengthening Ties Between the Chapter and the Local Chinese Community in Hawaii
Hawaii possesses a diverse ethnic composition and Chinese community. Zhang Xiaoju hopes, through appropriate means such as lectures, forums, and cultural exchanges, to enable more Chinese people to understand the concepts of democracy, constitutionalism, human rights, and the rule of law, while encouraging the Chinese community to actively participate in local social and public affairs.
He simultaneously proposed that overseas Chinese communities should remain vigilant against transnational political influence and improper interference. Chinese community associations, chambers of commerce, and cultural organizations ought to serve the community, foster hometown ties, and promote exchange; they should not become tools for any political force to manipulate overseas Chinese society.
He hopes that the Hawaii Chapter can further step into the Chinese community going forward, enabling more people to understand the civil rights, rule-of-law principles, and public participation emphasized by American democratic society, as well as to actively integrate into local society, through sustained, open, and rational communication.
V. Proceeding from Organizational Building: Accumulating Strength for China’s Democratic Transition
This leadership re-election of the Hawaii Chapter of the National Committee of the Democratic Party of China opens a new starting point for the chapter’s work in the next phase.
For Zhang Xiaoju, being elected as Chapter Chairman not only signifies assuming organizational affairs, but also means having to transform his personal pursuit of freedom and democracy into sustained public action. The plans he proposed—including internal chapter debates, the cultivation of democratic literacy, and exchanges within the Chinese community—reflect his understanding of the overseas Chinese democracy movement: democratic concepts require both public expression and implementation through concrete systems and daily practice.
In this sense, the value of a chapter leadership re-election lies not only in selecting new leaders, but even more in whether stable organizational mechanisms can be established based on open and fair procedures to build the capacity for sustained participation in public affairs.
China’s future democratic transition still has a long road ahead. For overseas Chinese pro-democracy figures, persisting in speaking out, recording history, disseminating ideas, building organizations, and respecting democratic rules in practice are all vital components of this long-term process.
Whether the completion of this leadership re-election by the Hawaii Chapter can further translate into organizational vitality and community influence remains to be tested by its future practical work. But for a political organization aimed at democracy, what truly matters, from beginning to end, is whether it can transform democracy from a political slogan into daily practice, and accumulate strength for China’s future of freedom and constitutionalism through long-term perseverance.
Authored by Reporter Miao Qing of The Opposition Party, 10/12/26
Editor: Zhou Zhigang Proofreader: Wang Bin Translator: Ge Bing
