Following President Chen Shui-bian's (
Since 1991, the Constitution of the Republic of China (ROC) has passed through seven rounds of amendments, a high number compared to the constitutional history of other nations. Nevertheless, the Constitution is still far from satisfactory and there have been calls for further amendments. The heart of the matter is that the current Constitution was drawn up for a nation that encompassed China and its vast population, rather than the small nation of Taiwan.
Constitutional amendments face many more hurdles in Taiwan than in other countries. Some of these reflect domestic pressures, such as the desire of conservatives to leave the main text intact, while adding and subtracting articles, to preserve the continuity of the ROC's constitutional "legitimacy." On the international front, Taiwan is also prevented from drawing up a new constitution for fear of international perceptions that it is seeking independence. Amendment is further hindered by the requirement of a three-quarters majority in the legislature to pass amendments. Each round of constitutional amendment has been confined to resolving urgent political matters. Constitutional reform has therefore undergone many twists and turns, reflecting ongoing conflicts and compromises.
In 1990, most people believed that the original spirit of the Constitution tended toward a Cabinet system, and therefore proposed amendments based on this understanding. Following then-president Lee Teng-hui's (
A year ago, the majority of people favored a shift from the current dual-executive system to a presidential system, under which there is a clearer division of power and responsibility. But following the surge of support that brought Ma Ying-jeou (
Now that constitutional amendment has built up some momentum, it should be directed at longer-term goals. The public should be allowed to participate in the debate, there should be bottom-up discussions between the political parties, and the public should be educated about the importance of the nation's fundamental document. This will establish the new constitution as a foundation of long-term political and administrative stability.
It is employment pass renewal season in Singapore, and the new regime is dominating the conversation at after-work cocktails on Fridays. From September, overseas employees on a work visa would need to fulfill the city-state’s new points-based system, and earn a minimum salary threshold to stay in their jobs. While this mirrors what happens in other countries, it risks turning foreign companies away, and could tarnish the nation’s image as a global business hub. The program was announced in 2022 in a bid to promote fair hiring practices. Points are awarded for how a candidate’s salary compares with local peers, along
China last month enacted legislation to punish —including with the death penalty — “die-hard Taiwanese independence separatists.” The country’s leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), need to be reminded about what the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has said and done in the past. They should think about whether those historical figures were also die-hard advocates of Taiwanese independence. The Taiwanese Communist Party was established in the Shanghai French Concession in April 1928, with a political charter that included the slogans “Long live the independence of the Taiwanese people” and “Establish a republic of Taiwan.” The CCP sent a representative, Peng
Japan and the Philippines on Monday signed a defense agreement that would facilitate joint drills between them. The pact was made “as both face an increasingly assertive China,” and is in line with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s “effort to forge security alliances to bolster the Philippine military’s limited ability to defend its territorial interests in the South China Sea,” The Associated Press (AP) said. The pact also comes on the heels of comments by former US deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, who said at a forum on Tuesday last week that China’s recent aggression toward the Philippines in
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