In a concerted effort rarely seen in Taiwan politics, the legislative caucuses of the three major parties yesterday reached a consensus to help push forward post-quake restoration work by passing the emergency decree announced by President Lee Teng-hui (
The legislature also decided to cancel an initial agreement to adjourn legislative sessions for two weeks.
In a joint statement made by legislative caucuses of the KMT, DPP, and the New Party, the legislature will review and vote today on the emergency decree announced for the enhancement of rescue and restoration work in the wake of last week's quake.
Representatives from the three parties' caucuses said they would not adjourn legislative sessions for the two weeks between Sept. 29 and Oct. 14 to make sure the government was responsible in its restoration efforts.
The decision was made after hours of closed-door negotiations between the three legislative caucuses, who demonstrated a rare unified attitude toward the single issue.
Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) of the KMT pointed out several reasons why the legislature needed to stay in session.
"We need to be in session to monitor the government's enforcement of restoration tasks. And we can also have time to reflect on the needs of the people affected by the quake," Wang said.
Although the three parties agreed on passing the emergency decree in today's session, the actual passage of the decree is not expected to be automatic, as it is subject to a review and secret vote by all the legislators, including independent ones.
There are other pressing concerns in addition to the restoration projects. KMT legislative caucus leader Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) said his party now has an urgent need to push forward the court martial law bill, which he said must be passed before Oct. 1; otherwise, there will be no law to handle criminal offenses by personnel of the armed forces. Both the DPP and the New Party have other concerns as well. By combining efforts to pass bills relevant to the restoration work they will be better able to accomplish their various tasks.
DPP legislative caucus leader Chen Chi-mai (
"We plan to do so mainly because the emergency decree's effective period [six months] is not long enough for the rebuilding efforts to be completed and also because the decree does not have clear definitions for restoration work in various areas," Chen said.
"We hope our special law will provide a clear legal basis for all sorts of post-quake restoration tasks, including relocation of homeless people, tax reduction or exemption for them, distribution of resources, institution of social welfare programs, and assignment of powers and responsibilities of governments at all levels involved in the tasks," he said.
"We expect the restoration work to last for around four years. So we have three to four years in mind as we plan for the effective period of the law," he said.
The New Party also plans to propose a similar bill, but it is more interested in gaining support from the other two parties for the establishment of a special committee in the legislature to supervise the enforcement of the emergency decree.
"In principle, we support the DPP's plan for a special law to handle the restoration work. But we are more eager to see the formation of the supervising committee," New Party lawmaker Elmer Feng (
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS