Bribery, embezzlement, fraud and other types of corruption were deeply entrenched during the 50-year reign of the former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) administration. That system was inherited by President Chen Shui-bian (
It is obvious that one of the reasons for this is the historical and continuing pro-KMT partisanship within the media. The majority of the media confuse fabrication with fact, and present propaganda as news. The people need, but do not demand, better journalism. Unbridled partisanship is at once a cause and an effect of the nation's political irrationality. This letter is to call attention to a less obvious part of the political irrationality.
Throughout most of the 50-year KMT regime, political opposition was not allowed. There was just the KMT party-state government and the people. Any criticism of the government or act of civil disobedience, was the people's criticism and a demonstration of the people's will. As recently as 20 years ago, there was still no opposition organized enough to have a name: there was only the generic term dangwai, meaning "outside of the KMT."
Twenty years ago the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) emerged as the nation's first opposition party. It developed its role as a loyal and responsible opposition, and its candidates won many local offices. In 2000 its candidate, Chen, won the presidential election.
The KMT became an opposition party, but declined the role of a loyal and responsible opposition. Regaining the presidency, no matter what the cost to the country, was its only goal. It sought to frustrate and embarrass the government by a program of obstruction against every government plan, it disabled institutions such as the Control Yuan and it continued to demand that Chen go.
Although the opposition parties' use of their majority in the legislature is a clear expression of organized opposition power, the public seems to view street actions, including the present anti-Chen demonstration, as people's movements.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. From the recruitment of former DPP chairman Shih Ming-teh (施明德) as a figurehead leader, to the permission for weeks of 24-hour occupation of the streets granted by the KMT chairman from his perch in Taipei City Hall, the anti-Chen demonstration expresses the power of an undisciplined and disloyal opposition.
There will be no rhyme or reason to Taiwanese politics until people open their eyes, look at what the opposition parties do and measure the opposition parties by their performance as a loyal and responsible opposition.
Marty Wolff
Taipei County
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
RSS