President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), in his capacity as Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman, yesterday went on the offensive, aiming to boost support for the party in the Nov. 29 elections, charging that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has hindered the nation’s progress.
In his speech at the KMT national congress held in Chiayi City, Ma accused the DPP of trampling on the democratic spirit of majority decisionmaking by occupying the podium at the Legislative Yuan 92 times over the past six years, preventing bipartisan dialogue and engaging in what he termed endless boycotts.
“This attitude of extreme conceit bent on excluding outsiders, humiliating officials and playing games with specific bills is the biggest crisis Taiwan currently faces,” Ma said.
Photo: Wang Min-wei, Taipei Times
Ma said the DPP used violent tactics that would not help solve any of the nation’s problems, adding that if the opposition party truly “loved Taiwan” as it said, it should cease actions that lead to infighting and wasting resources.
“Return to the true path of democracy and persuade the people with civilized conduct,” Ma said.
The public’s loyalty to the system far exceeds the interests of any political party, or concerns over an individual candidate’s success or failures at elections, Ma said, adding that such was the value of Taiwanese democracy and why the governments and people of the world have praised the nation for its peaceful transition of government.
Photo: CNA
Ma said that the DPP used “all sorts of reasons” to malign the rightful power of government accorded to the KMT by the Constitution and are attempting to bully the majority into submitting to the will of the few. Ma then accused the DPP of abusing its role as the opposition party.
Appealing to voters for support in the Nov. 29 elections, Ma said “The KMT is a party local to Taiwan, it is progressive and forward-looking, practical and responsible, and it is a diverse party that is willing to embrace changing times.”
Ma said that people spread across Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu might have come from different places and have different histories, but the acceptance of multicultural society is what makes Taiwan precious.
“The Aborigines may believe in ancestral spirits and rainbow bridges, the earlier Han immigrants remember the sadness inherent in their relocation to Taiwan, the people following the Nationalist government to Taiwan in 1949 remembered having to leave their homes and families behind, while the newer immigrants — such as foreign spouses — have the hope that over time this land will become their home,” Ma said, adding that “no matter who came first, no matter where we had come from, we are now all Taiwanese.”
“On this land, people of any culture and ethnicity are welcome to work side by side, to sweat and toil over the common goal of making Taiwan better; the embracing of multiple diverse cultures is the cornerstone of democracy,” he said.
“We are the most localized of all political parties,” Ma said, adding that “any supporter of the KMT would be able to walk tall and say: ‘I’m Taiwanese, I support the KMT.’”
In his speech, Ma also enumerated what the KMT has accomplished at the local, county and national levels.
The party’s members promoted competition capability for cities, encouraged the birth rate and introduced new vitality in business sectors through finding new investors, as well as increasing the number of jobs in cities where KMT members governed.
“We are telling the public by our actions and achievements that the KMT is better than the DPP at local government,” Ma said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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