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.
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
The Ministry of National Defense on Tuesday announced that the military would hold its annual Han Kuang exercises from July 22 to 26. Military officers said the exercises would feature unscripted war games, and a decentralized command and control structure. This year’s exercises underline the recent reforms in Taiwan’s military as it transitions from a top-down command structure to one where autonomy is pushed down to the front lines to improve decisionmaking and adaptability. Militaries around the world have been observing and studying Russia’s war in Ukraine. They have seen that the Ukrainian military has been much quicker to adapt to