President Chen Shui-bian's (
This time, he adopted a more aggressive attitude in dealing with problems that have plagued the government since 2000.
Commentators say that since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) took power, the party has been living in a dream world in which "reconciliation" with the opposition is possible. This led the government to support a policy of "active opening, effective management" over China and "reconciliation and coexistence" with the opposition.
But Chen has finally realized that what the opposition really wants is the power to rule.
As a result, major bills such as the arms procurement plan, the reconstruction of government agencies, the handling of the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) stolen assets, and the NT$80 billion flood prevention budget have been consistently blocked in the legislature.
The pan-blue camp believes that with its legislative majority it can simply use gridlock to cripple the government until the next presidential election.
It has also allied itself with Beijing in placing pressure on the government to allow fruit exports to China, challenged the executive in pushing for direct links and insisted that the National Communications Commission adopt a dubious procedure in which members are selected based on representation in the legislature. It is not considering a change of policy, and why should it? Closing down chunks of the executive has proved politically acceptable for voters who value action over rhetoric.
Chen has rekindled hope among the pan-green camp's supporters, for many believe that Chen has now renounced reconciliation with the opposition and realized that current trade policies have made the economy too reliant on China.
He also admitted that the government has not been effective in pursuing the KMT's stolen assets, thereby allowing that party ample time to defend or liquidate them. His admission is no more than the public deserve.
Although Chen placed considerable emphasis on the importance of clean government, he retains a number of people of dubious character around him and failed to satisfactorily address the question of Presidential Office staff playing the stock market during office hours.
His promise to establish a government ethics and anti-corruption office under the Ministry of Justice, however, is simply adding to the already formidable bureaucracy. If this office is to be established, it should be directly under the Presidential Office. Regardless, the sheer volume of talk and the absence of action on government and other corruption has been acutely disappointing.
A number of Chen's idealistic proposals, such as a referendum on a new constitution, are likely to sustain confrontation between the government and the legislature. But without any clear strategy to have these items appeal to lawmakers, it is likely that 2006 will be yet another year of gridlock, stalling and impotent speeches.
Two weeks ago, Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh (楊紫瓊) raised hackles in Taiwan by posting to her 2.6 million Instagram followers that she was visiting “Taipei, China.” Yeoh’s post continues a long-standing trend of Chinese propaganda that spreads disinformation about Taiwan’s political status and geography, aimed at deceiving the world into supporting its illegitimate claims to Taiwan, which is not and has never been part of China. Taiwan must respond to this blatant act of cognitive warfare. Failure to respond merely cedes ground to China to continue its efforts to conquer Taiwan in the global consciousness to justify an invasion. Taiwan’s government
This month’s news that Taiwan ranks as Asia’s happiest place according to this year’s World Happiness Report deserves both celebration and reflection. Moving up from 31st to 27th globally and surpassing Singapore as Asia’s happiness leader is gratifying, but the true significance lies deeper than these statistics. As a society at the crossroads of Eastern tradition and Western influence, Taiwan embodies a distinctive approach to happiness worth examining more closely. The report highlights Taiwan’s exceptional habit of sharing meals — 10.1 shared meals out of 14 weekly opportunities, ranking eighth globally. This practice is not merely about food, but represents something more
In an article published on this page on Tuesday, Kaohsiung-based journalist Julien Oeuillet wrote that “legions of people worldwide would care if a disaster occurred in South Korea or Japan, but the same people would not bat an eyelid if Taiwan disappeared.” That is quite a statement. We are constantly reading about the importance of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), hailed in Taiwan as the nation’s “silicon shield” protecting it from hostile foreign forces such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and so crucial to the global supply chain for semiconductors that its loss would cost the global economy US$1
Concerns that the US might abandon Taiwan are often overstated. While US President Donald Trump’s handling of Ukraine raised unease in Taiwan, it is crucial to recognize that Taiwan is not Ukraine. Under Trump, the US views Ukraine largely as a European problem, whereas the Indo-Pacific region remains its primary geopolitical focus. Taipei holds immense strategic value for Washington and is unlikely to be treated as a bargaining chip in US-China relations. Trump’s vision of “making America great again” would be directly undermined by any move to abandon Taiwan. Despite the rhetoric of “America First,” the Trump administration understands the necessity of