President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday dismissed accusations that his administration is a lame duck, while criticizing the emphasis that news reports place on approval ratings.
Such ratings only reflect public opinion at certain periods of time, Ma told reporters at a reception in Taipei to mark the seventh year of his presidency, adding that he is focused on forging a solid foundation for national prosperity over many generations.
Ma’s comments referred to media use of a poll published yesterday by the Chinese-language Apple Daily that found Ma’s popularity ratings have slumped to 29 percent.
Photo: CNA
At the reception, Ma said that he had never been against “reasonable” national defense purchases, adding that the purchase of diesel submarines had always remained a priority.
The administration is adopting a dual-method approach to the acquisition of submarines for the Republic of China Navy, eyeing domestic production and foreign purchases, Ma said, adding that all groundwork would be prepared within his term of presidency for future governments.
The answer followed questions from reporters about the acquisition of submarines, which the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) had opposed during the administration of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
The Chen administration explored the possibility of purchasing diesel submarines from then-US president George W. Bush’s administration at a cost of NT$600 billion (US$19.6 billion at current exchange rates).
Ma said the navy’s aging submarines would limit its defensive capabilities, adding that the administration is still looking for companies interested in offering technical support for the domestic development of submarines.
Ma denied that the administration was entering a “lame duck” period with presidential orders “stopping at the gates of the Presidential Office.”
He said that the recent amendments to the Labor Standards Act (勞動基準法) and the passage of the Long-term Care Services Act (長期照顧服務法) were due to his recommendations.
The government is doing its job and looking into promoting the combination of housing and real-estate taxes, Ma said, adding, however, that not everything has proceeded smoothly.
Commenting on reported public discontent over increases in fuel and electricity prices, Ma said that they were necessary measures that would save Taiwan from long-term negative effects.
“The standardization of fuel prices and electricity prices has cost me an arm and a leg politically,” Ma said, but added that he is nonetheless thankful for the public’s support, now that the prices have been standardized.
When asked whether he would lose sleep over his low presidential approval ratings, Ma said that his every action was for the nation and the public, adding that he would look into more appropriate handling of issues.
Ma said Taiwan’s relations with the US have improved significantly.
Over the past seven years, Washington has approved the sale of three arms packages to Taipei worth more than US$18.3 billion. That represents the most sold to Taiwan by the US in the past 20 years, the president said.
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