Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers differed widely in their reaction to the CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets’ latest report, which predicted that the 2012 presidential election was the “KMT's to lose.”
The Hong Kong-based firm released a report on Tuesday titled The KMT as its own worst enemy, which said that while Ma was heading in the right direction by adopting China-leaning policies, the KMT could still lose the next presidential election because of “self-inflicted” wounds.
CLSA senior analyst Bruce Warden said in the report that the KMT’s record of administrative achievements was poor and it appeared to be insensitive to public opinion.
The image of Ma’s administration suffered many setbacks because of several recent events, including its inadequate response to the flooding caused by Typhoon Morakot in August, Warden said, adding that the DPP was catching up to the KMT, which would be the greatest threat for Ma and the KMT.
KMT legislators shrugged off the report, with KMT Legislator Lu Hsueh-chang (呂學樟) saying it was simply an evaluation by a foreign company. It might not fully understand Taiwan’s political scene, he said.
“It is impossible for the company to know what may happen in 2012. The company is not God,” Lu said.
KMT Legislator Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀) questioned the objectivity of the report, saying it was too early for anyone to jump to the conclusion that Ma would lose if he ran for re-election.
DPP lawmakers, however, said the report showed Ma needs to have a “clear change of direction” in his policies and take into account public concerns over the economic cooperation framework pact with China the government plans to sign before June.
“If the KMT continues its current policies, which includes secret negotiations [with China], it’s not only Ma’s term that will end in 2012, but the entire nation will be finished by then,” DPP Legislator Lee Chun-yee (李俊毅) said.
DPP caucus whip Chai Trong-rong (蔡同榮) said Ma’s inability to clearly communicate his policies and address public concerns over them were some of the reasons behind CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets’ findings.
DPP Legislator William Lai (賴清德) said that previous predictions by the brokerage and investment group turned out to be correct, including its prediction that then-president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) would win his reelection bid in the 2004.
BAIL APPEALS: The former vice premier was ordered to be held incommunicado despite twice being granted bail and paying a total of NT$12 million in bond The Taoyuan District Court yesterday ordered the detention of former vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), who is being investigated for alleged corruption while serving as Taoyuan mayor from December 2014 to December 2022, and that he be held incommunicado. The court made the ruling during a bail hearing after prosecutors appealed its bail ruling twice. Cheng on Saturday was released after posting bail of NT$5 million (US$153,818). However, after prosecutors lodged an appeal, the High Court on Monday revoked the original ruling and ordered the Taoyuan District Court to hold another bail hearing. On Tuesday, the district court granted bail to Cheng a second
The Thai government on Friday announced that Taiwanese would be allowed to stay in the country for up to 60 days per entry, under the Southeast Asian country’s visa-free program starting from today. Taiwan is among 93 countries included in the Thai visa-waiver program, which has been expanded from 57 countries, with the visa-exempt entry extended from 30 to 60 days. After taking office last year, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has vowed to grant more visa waivers to foreign travelers as part of efforts to stimulate tourism. The expanded visa-waiver program was on Friday signed by Thai Minister of the Interior Anutin
PEACE AND SECURITY: China’s military ambitions present ‘the greatest strategic challenge to Japan and the world, Japan’s annual defense white paper said yesterday Japan yesterday warned that China risked escalating tensions with Taiwan with an increase in military exercises that appeared aimed in part at readying Beijing’s forces for a possible invasion. Japan’s annual assessment of security threats, including those posed by China, North Korea and Russia, comes as Taiwan closely monitors Chinese People’s Liberation Army air and sea exercises, including one with the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean. The drills are the latest in a series including maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait last year that a senior US general said would be key to any invasion. “Because of that increase in military activity,
HAN KUANG: The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers said The armed forces would for the first time test new rules of engagement (ROE) at this month’s annual Han Kuang exercises, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said yesterday. The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games, and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers told a news conference in Taipei. ROE cards would be issued to select combat troops to test their ability to function without tight control, they said. The most recent edition of the rules was published last year, they said. One of the cards’ two templates identifies enemy targets that soldiers