American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Stephen Young's comments on Thursday drew heated criticism from opposition parties yesterday, but some political heavyweights also came out in defense of the US representative's blunt statement.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
"It would be a big help for the arms bills if [Young] had chosen a more euphemistic mode of expression or self-restraint," Ma said.
While arguing that the KMT has always been supportive of a "reasonable" arms budget, Ma said that passage of the bill depends on the nation's defense needs, finances, cross-strait relations and public opinion, and the US should respect the right of the Legislative Yuan to review the bill.
"The Republic of China is a sovereign country ... The right of the Legislative Yuan to review the bill should be respected," Ma said in a meeting with the press. "[The KMT] will support the bill if it's necessary. National defense concerns everybody, and our stance should not be influenced by an AIT representative."
Thanking the US for its concern over Taiwan's defense and security in Asia, Ma said that the KMT takes the issue of national defense seriously and had said last month that it would handle this issue in the current legislative session.
The KMT and People First Party (PFP) caucuses have agreed not deal with the bill until Prosecutor Eric Chen (陳瑞仁) concludes his investigation into the corruption scandals surrounding the president and his family, Ma said, adding that there was still time for the bill to be reviewed after the prosecutor's investigative reports are released around the middle of next month.
KMT caucus whip Tsai Chin-lung (
The PFP also condemned Young for what it called "improper comments."
PFP caucus whip Yang Cheng Chin-ling (鄭金玲) said at a press conference that the PFP would recommend that the US recall Young, and that it would initiate a motion in the legislature that Young be declared persona non grata.
Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀), director of the PFP's policy coordination department, said the caucus would demand that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revoke the AIT official's diplomatic immunity if Young does not apologize by next week for his comments on the arms procurement deal and the opposition parties' behavior during the Double Ten National Day celebrations.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Charles Chiang (
He said that although the arms purchase bill is considered an internal issue, Young was also addressing the diplomatic issue between Taiwan and the US. Young's comments therefore did not violate Taiwan's sovereignty, he said.
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Wang added, however, that Taiwan is an independent country and the passage or review of any bill should be left to the legislature.
As to whether or not the legislature would pass the arms procurement deal by the end of this year, Wang said he would not make a judgment call but that he would continue to look for "proper timing" to coordinate relations between the governing and opposition parties.
Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇
"Young is very friendly to Taiwan. He cares about the relationship between Taiwan and the US a lot," Su said when approached by reportersfor a comment.
"He pointed out where the problem is. However, the problem could be solved as soon as our legislature approves this proposal," Su said.
Su added that the US government approved the proposed arms sales more than five years ago. It is quite embarrassing that the Taiwanese government could not repay this favor because the budget is still pending at the legislature, he said.
"It is like ... we did some grocery shopping but did not pay our bills and our debt has been outstanding for five years," Su said.
He also mentioned that the military has not upgraded its weapons system over the past five years, while the Chinese military has kept increasing its annual budget.
Minister of National Defense Lee Jye (
Everybody should take Young's comments seriously and figure out a solution instead of continuing to argue about this issue, he said.
"I am not trying to scare everybody. But, think about it, the Chinese navy claim that they will have at least three aircraft carriers by 2020. What about us? How are we going to defend ourselves?" Lee asked.
Former DPP chairman Shih Ming-teh (施明德), the leader of campaign to oust President-Chen-Shui-bian (陳水扁), condemned Young for "ignoring the will of hundreds of thousands of anti-Chen protesters and making irresponsible comments on Taiwan's internal affairs."
"This is interfering with domestic policies and an offense against the 23 million Taiwanese people," Shih said.
Urging both legislators and the public alike "not to succumb to Young's threat," Shih called on the people of Taiwan and overseas Taiwanese to issue a protest against Young.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
A wild live dugong was found in Taiwan for the first time in 88 years, after it was accidentally caught by a fisher’s net on Tuesday in Yilan County’s Fenniaolin (粉鳥林). This is the first sighting of the species in Taiwan since 1937, having already been considered “extinct” in the country and considered as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A fisher surnamed Chen (陳) went to Fenniaolin to collect the fish in his netting, but instead caught a 3m long, 500kg dugong. The fisher released the animal back into the wild, not realizing it was an endangered species at
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and