The political crises surrounding President Chen Shui-bian (
There is no disputing that the DPP faces a political crisis of unprecedented severity. It is also true that this crisis is due to Chen's mismanagement of state affairs. The president cannot escape responsibility for this, but so far his failures have been political and moral, not legal.
In the political sphere, Chen has already delegated some of his powers, heralding the arrival of the post-Chen era. In the private sphere, Chen and his family are being worn down by the pressure being put on them by political foes and public opinion. But ultimately, Chen himself has not broken the law, and finding him guilty by association is unreasonable.
Some time ago, Chen announced that he was withdrawing from the DPP's affairs, so even if he were to leave the party, it would be no more than a symbolic gesture. Chen and the DPP are inseparable, so that even if he were to withdraw, the DPP would still be enmeshed in the current crisis. His departure would not help the party regain the people's trust; it would merely give the media and opposition more opportunities to kick the man when he's down. Throwing Chen out of the DPP would benefit neither Chen nor the party.
In finding a way out of its crisis, the DPP should consider changing the system rather than simply blaming Chen. Whatever happens to Chen, the political scene and party affairs are now entering the "post-Chen" era. The DPP National Convention, which begins on Saturday, should deliberate on the model of collective leadership operating through the Central Standing Committee.
In the past, the DPP was regarded as an electoral machine. It now needs to become a mechanism for policy coordination. From major policy decision-making by the Cabinet to major legislation, deliberation should proceed through the coordinating and negotiating platform of the party's Central Standing Committee. This would allow the executive, the legislative caucus and the party to be consistent in its actions. This is especially important since the DPP is in a minority in the legislature and does not benefit from having a strong leader. It will also help the party escape the criticism that it is led by one man's will, and that the Presidential Office routinely interferes in its affairs.
Rule through committee might be less efficient, but it provides greater transparency and more prudent policymaking. If the DPP misses this opportunity to become a more integrated and unified party, especially now that it has lost its reputation for honesty, it will leave itself open to being cut down by any of its rivals.
Chen has said that he will not attend the party congress. In any case, the question of whether Chen will resign from the party is not important. It is more important to consider whether the DPP will be able to operate smoothly, eliminate administrative obstacles and carry out its policies without Chen.
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
US President Donald Trump’s challenge to domestic American economic-political priorities, and abroad to the global balance of power, are not a threat to the security of Taiwan. Trump’s success can go far to contain the real threat — the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) surge to hegemony — while offering expanded defensive opportunities for Taiwan. In a stunning affirmation of the CCP policy of “forceful reunification,” an obscene euphemism for the invasion of Taiwan and the destruction of its democracy, on March 13, 2024, the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) used Chinese social media platforms to show the first-time linkage of three new
If you had a vision of the future where China did not dominate the global car industry, you can kiss those dreams goodbye. That is because US President Donald Trump’s promised 25 percent tariff on auto imports takes an ax to the only bits of the emerging electric vehicle (EV) supply chain that are not already dominated by Beijing. The biggest losers when the levies take effect this week would be Japan and South Korea. They account for one-third of the cars imported into the US, and as much as two-thirds of those imported from outside North America. (Mexico and Canada, while
I have heard people equate the government’s stance on resisting forced unification with China or the conditional reinstatement of the military court system with the rise of the Nazis before World War II. The comparison is absurd. There is no meaningful parallel between the government and Nazi Germany, nor does such a mindset exist within the general public in Taiwan. It is important to remember that the German public bore some responsibility for the horrors of the Holocaust. Post-World War II Germany’s transitional justice efforts were rooted in a national reckoning and introspection. Many Jews were sent to concentration camps not
RSS