It has been a demoralizing week for both the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), with their leaders, President Chen Shui-bian (
The DPP's Central Review Committee is expected to discuss tomorrow how to discipline first lady Wu Shu-jen (
According to this rule, Wu's DPP membership should already have been suspended for her indictment on corruption and forgery charges in connection with the president's "state affairs fund."
But on Thursday, the committee couldn't reach a quorum to discuss the matter. Although certain members had planned to refrain from attending meetings indefinitely, or at least until after the upcoming elections, public pressure has compelled them to convene tomorrow to discuss Wu's case.
Ma has also been questioned by prosecutors over irregularities in the use of his special mayoral allowance. He has promised that if he is indicted, he will abide by KMT rules that demand the suspension of his party membership and his resignation from the party's chairmanship.
To resolve Ma's crisis, some KMT members have proposed an amendment to the party's rules, while other members have begun to make plans that would allow him to register as an independent candidate representing the pan-blue camp in the 2008 presidential race.
Chen and Ma both wanted to formulate strict party rules to crack down on "black gold," or corruption.
The KMT mayor of Keelung, Hsu Tsai-li (
Now the hammer is coming down on Ma, but it is not clear whether he will follow party rules or seek to tiptoe around them.
In terms of party rules, this is a simple issue.
Politically, however, it is much more difficult. This is not about individual people, families or political parties, but about safeguarding the credibility of the parties in question. Chen and Ma face a situation that will not only affect the immediate present, but that will also influence Taiwan's future direction.
Chen and Ma should remember the reasons why they amended their party charters in the first place. If integrity is an ideal that the DPP and the KMT value, then Chen and Ma may have to sacrifice their positions. If rules are twisted to help them stay in or attain office, it would be tantamount to deciding that the process is secondary to political "necessity."
Chen and Ma have proclaimed their innocence. They may be indicted at some point, but that is for the judicial system to work out.
The nation's political parties, however, must do some serious soul searching. The DPP and the KMT must decide whether their rules are indeed standards to live up to, or whether they exist only to be broken when political expedience deems it necessary.
Under DPP rules, Wu should be expelled.
Under KMT rules, if he is indicted, Ma's membership in the party should be suspended and he should resign as chairman.
Both parties should remember that the nation's voters will watch -- and judge -- their response.
Taiwan’s victory in the World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 championship is an historic achievement. Yet once again this achievement is marred by the indignity of the imposed moniker “Chinese Taipei.” The absurdity is compounded by the fact that none of the players are even from Taipei, and some, such as Paiwan catcher Giljegiljaw Kungkuan, are not even ethnically Chinese. The issue garnered attention around the Paris Olympics, yet fell off the agenda as Olympic memories retreated. “Chinese Taipei” persists, and the baseball championship serves as a reminder that fighting “Chinese Taipei” must be a continuous campaign, not merely resurfacing around international
This month, the National Health Insurance (NHI) is to implement a major policy change by eliminating the suspension-and-resumption mechanism for Taiwanese residing abroad. With more than 210,000 Taiwanese living overseas — many with greater financial means than those in Taiwan — this reform, catalyzed by a 2022 Constitutional Court ruling, underscores the importance of fairness, sustainability and shared responsibility in one of the world’s most admired public healthcare systems. Beyond legal obligations, expatriates have a compelling moral duty to contribute, recognizing their stake in a system that embodies the principle of health as a human right. The ruling declared the prior
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) appears to be encountering some culture shock and safety issues at its new fab in Arizona. On Nov. 7, Arizona state authorities cited TSMC for worker safety violations, fining the company US$16,131, after a man died in May. The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health released its six-month investigation into the fatality and cited TSMC for failing to keep the workplace free from hazards likely to cause death or serious harm. At about the same time, the chip giant was also sued for alleged discriminatory hiring practices favoring Asians, prompting a flurry of debate on whether TSMC’s
US president-elect Donald Trump is inheriting from President Joe Biden a challenging situation for American policy in the Indo-Pacific region, with an expansionist China on the march and threatening to incorporate Taiwan, by force if necessary. US policy choices have become increasingly difficult, in part because Biden’s policy of engagement with China, including investing in personal diplomacy with President Xi Jinping (習近平), has not only yielded little but also allowed the Chinese military to gain a stronger footing in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. In Xi’s Nov. 16 Lima meeting with a diminished Biden, the Chinese strongman signaled little
RSS