The uncertainty surrounding the Economic Sustainable Development Conference finally came to an end last week, when Vice Premier Tsai Ing-wen (
Since the Democratic Progressive Party took power in 2000, it has organized several conferences, which have reached a long list of conclusions, beginning with the Economic Development Advisory Conference in 2001, in which 322 recommendations were approved. In particular, former president Lee Teng-hui's (
There followed a national conference on social welfare services in 2002, a national conference on population policy in 2004, a national energy strategy conference last year and a national sustainable development conference this April. Some of the conference conclusions became law, but many others have still not been passed because of political paralysis in the legislature.
Opposition parties have threatened to boycott next month's conference because the government has not fully implemented decisions reached at the 2001 conference -- especially the consensus to move ahead on cross-strait economic links. Industry representatives also gave a lukewarm response to the conference after President Chen Shui-bian (
But the Cabinet's announcement last week of plans to expand cross-strait passenger and cargo charter flights appeared to help improve domestic sentiment for the moment. Moreover, the inclusion by the Mainland Affairs Council of China-bound investment matters in the preparatory meetings over the coming six weeks has heightened expectations for the event. Such matters will include a possible lifting of the current limit on Taiwanese firms' investment in China.
However, it is questionable whether the Cabinet can use a national conference to solicit the collective public will and untangle difficult issues. Facing rising calls from business circles for further relaxations in cross-strait trade and investment, it is certainly questionable whether participants can stand up for national security concerns and reach a conclusion that maintains Taiwan's competitiveness while securing a balance between global markets and the Chinese market.
Given the nation's entrenched political polarization, some have worried whether any meaningful and realistic conclusions could come from the conference. How can such a divided country reach agreement on cross-strait policies such as whether to allow Taiwanese banks to invest in Chinese lenders or allow chipmakers to invest in 0.18-micron process technology in China?
Some politicians and mass media prefer to focus on political scandals. But why not try to draw the public's attention to next month's conference, which will focus on cross-strait issues, as well as structural and long-term development issues including financial reform, labor shortages and environmental protection? In a country like Taiwan, where many political figures have no vision for the nation because they can only see their enemies, a constructive exercise like the conference could make a refreshing change.
The gutting of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) by US President Donald Trump’s administration poses a serious threat to the global voice of freedom, particularly for those living under authoritarian regimes such as China. The US — hailed as the model of liberal democracy — has the moral responsibility to uphold the values it champions. In undermining these institutions, the US risks diminishing its “soft power,” a pivotal pillar of its global influence. VOA Tibetan and RFA Tibetan played an enormous role in promoting the strong image of the US in and outside Tibet. On VOA Tibetan,
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), the leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), caused a national outrage and drew diplomatic condemnation on Tuesday after he arrived at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office dressed in a Nazi uniform. Sung performed a Nazi salute and carried a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf as he arrived to be questioned over allegations of signature forgery in the recall petition. The KMT’s response to the incident has shown a striking lack of contrition and decency. Rather than apologizing and distancing itself from Sung’s actions,
US President Trump weighed into the state of America’s semiconductor manufacturing when he declared, “They [Taiwan] stole it from us. They took it from us, and I don’t blame them. I give them credit.” At a prior White House event President Trump hosted TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家), head of the world’s largest and most advanced chip manufacturer, to announce a commitment to invest US$100 billion in America. The president then shifted his previously critical rhetoric on Taiwan and put off tariffs on its chips. Now we learn that the Trump Administration is conducting a “trade investigation” on semiconductors which
By now, most of Taiwan has heard Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) threats to initiate a vote of no confidence against the Cabinet. His rationale is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government’s investigation into alleged signature forgery in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) recall campaign constitutes “political persecution.” I sincerely hope he goes through with it. The opposition currently holds a majority in the Legislative Yuan, so the initiation of a no-confidence motion and its passage should be entirely within reach. If Chiang truly believes that the government is overreaching, abusing its power and targeting political opponents — then
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