Yesterday at about nine in the morning, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
These legislators say that the trip was made to protest Japan's unreasonable expulsion and detention of Taiwanese fishing vessels. It was even more surprising to hear Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
What is also perplexing is that Ma described Wang's boarding of a navy frigate protecting Taiwanese fishing boats as "an impulsive action." Ma, like Wang, is a contender for the chairmanship of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), and his comments suggest that there is more than meets the eye regarding Wang's actions to protect Taiwanese fishermen. It would seem that Wang's trip is as much about raising his profile in the chairmanship campaign as anything else -- and that this has led Ma, who missed out on this effective electioneering, to express sour grapes.
Wang must be condemned for endangering national security for the sake of his election campaign. If such a protest accidentally sparked a conflict which resulted in casualties or even death, it would not matter who was at fault. Taiwan would be faced with a dilemma over whether or not to go to war with Japan. China is already looking hungrily at Taiwan, so is there really any need to use a naval deployment to force a conflict with Japan?
The more serious problem is that Wang, as the legislative speaker, has set a terrible example of direct interference by the legislature in the affairs of the executive branch. While it is permissible for the head of the legislature to visit a neighboring country for peaceful exchanges, for him to board a naval vessel in the company of the Minister of Defense to participate in a quasi-military protest action against a neighboring country is highly unusual and quite insolent. The procedures of constitutional government have been disrupted by Wang's infringement of the rights of the executive, and his stunt is an affront to the president's role as the commander-in-chief of the armed services. Wang's fault is compounded by the fact that the trip was tainted with accusations of electioneering. How can the Japanese take such actions seriously?
For this reason we strongly criticize PFP Legislator Lin Yu-fang (
Taiwan simply cannot afford to make more enemies, and it has no need to echo China's anti-Japanese sentiments. Japan is Taiwan's friend, and apart from a small section of society that leans toward China, every one believes this to be the case. We must ask Wang not to let his political ambition get the better of him. We also ask President Chen Shui-bian (
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