If Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Vice Chairman Chiang Pin-kun (
The legal controversy over whether Chiang committed treason rests solely on the question of whether China is treated as a "foreign country" under Taiwan's laws. Article 113 of the Criminal Code states that it is a crime to enter into any agreements with a "foreign government" without government authorization. Article 2 of the Constitution ambiguously states that the national territory of this country is in accordance with the "existing national boundaries" and leaves open the question of whether China is part of this territory. In addition, the language of the Statute Governing the Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (
However, leaving aside the legalese and relying instead on common sense, Beijing is not only a "foreign government" but in fact the government of an enemy state. After all, if Beijing is not a foreign government, then what is the current "Republic of China"(Taiwan) government?
This is reminiscent of the old definition of the crime "rape" under Article 221 of the Criminal Code. Before the 1999 amendment only "women" could be victims of the crime. Therefore, from the standpoint of legal technicality, those who raped men could avoid punishment. That particular loophole has been closed through a legal amendment. The same should be done to solve the ambiguous status of China under Taiwan's laws.
It is shameful and dishonorable for the KMT to abuse these loopholes in this manner. But it not only has refused to apologize for its mistake, KMT spokesperson Su Chi (
Some KMT lawmakers have accused President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and the Democratic Progressive Party of being "jealous" of the KMT and Chiang. The accusation is of course ridiculous, because there is reason to feel jealous of someone only if that person has achieved something admirable.
In its desperation to kill the chances of People First Party Chairman James Soong (
Taiwan's government must take a tough position on this. At the very least, close the legal loopholes to prevent further unauthorized actions.
In dealing with Beijing, each and every step taken must be based on an internal consensus reached in Taiwan and be part of a comprehensive government plan.
The government risks losing control of cross-strait policy if it becomes a trend for political parties and individuals to rush to the other side of the Taiwan Strait to compete for the affections of Beijing behind the government's back.
The damage to the government's dignity and credibility cannot be underestimated.
To The Honorable Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜): We would like to extend our sincerest regards to you for representing Taiwan at the inauguration of US President Donald Trump on Monday. The Taiwanese-American community was delighted to see that Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan speaker not only received an invitation to attend the event, but successfully made the trip to the US. We sincerely hope that you took this rare opportunity to share Taiwan’s achievements in freedom, democracy and economic development with delegations from other countries. In recent years, Taiwan’s economic growth and world-leading technology industry have been a source of pride for Taiwanese-Americans.
Next week, the nation is to celebrate the Lunar New Year break. Unfortunately, cold winds are a-blowing, literally and figuratively. The Central Weather Administration has warned of an approaching cold air mass, while obstinate winds of chaos eddy around the Legislative Yuan. English theologian Thomas Fuller optimistically pointed out in 1650 that “it’s always darkest before the dawn.” We could paraphrase by saying the coldest days are just before the renewed hope of spring. However, one must temper any optimism about the damage being done in the legislature by the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), under
As Taiwan’s domestic political crisis deepens, the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) have proposed gutting the country’s national spending, with steep cuts to the critical foreign and defense ministries. While the blue-white coalition alleges that it is merely responding to voters’ concerns about corruption and mismanagement, of which there certainly has been plenty under Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and KMT-led governments, the rationales for their proposed spending cuts lay bare the incoherent foreign policy of the KMT-led coalition. Introduced on the eve of US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the KMT’s proposed budget is a terrible opening
To our readers: Due to the Lunar New Year holiday, from Sunday, Jan. 26, through Sunday, Feb. 2, the Taipei Times will have a reduced format without our regular editorials and opinion pieces. From Tuesday to Saturday the paper will not be delivered to subscribers, but will be available for purchase at convenience stores. Subscribers will receive the editions they missed once normal distribution resumes on Sunday, Feb. 2. The paper returns to its usual format on Monday, Feb. 3, when our regular editorials and opinion pieces will also be resumed.
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