Many illegal structures of politicians from across the spectrum — from Taiwan-Japan Relations Association Chairman Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全) of the Democratic Progressive Party to former Chinese National Party (KMT) legislator Yen Kuan-heng (顏寬恆) and former Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) of the KMT — were built three or four decades after Taiwan’s democratization.
KMT Taipei City Councilor Lee Po-yi (李柏毅) has never said such buildings should be demolished. If he has, it would be interesting to see him provide evidence.
Why is Lee criticizing the “illegal” construction of Vice President William Lai’s (賴清德) family home, built during Lai’s childhood?
Lee’s comments betray an unconscionable double standard. If he cares so much about legal property, he should consider Chiang Kai-shek’s (蔣介石) 49 guesthouses — all illegal structures built on state land.
Does Lee want to play a game of chronological sophistry in looking past these contradictions? Or would he contend that not all “existing illegal structures” are built equal?
Illegally built villas, irrespective of their owners’ political affiliation, involve the abuse of power — something entirely different from a family home built on mining land by Lai’s father when Lai himself was a small child. Such homes were built by poor families trying to shelter themselves — a basic need for survival. The two are not even remotely comparable.
It is difficult to understand why so many people could be swept up in this nonsense. How can they keep mouthing off with so little regard for the truth, entirely devoid of shame or conscience?
Lee should be ashamed of his comments and for propagating lies. It is hard to see how he can continue to look voters in the eye after the rubbish he uttered.
Ten Len-phone is a retired radio host.
Translated by Chien Yan-ru
The gutting of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) by US President Donald Trump’s administration poses a serious threat to the global voice of freedom, particularly for those living under authoritarian regimes such as China. The US — hailed as the model of liberal democracy — has the moral responsibility to uphold the values it champions. In undermining these institutions, the US risks diminishing its “soft power,” a pivotal pillar of its global influence. VOA Tibetan and RFA Tibetan played an enormous role in promoting the strong image of the US in and outside Tibet. On VOA Tibetan,
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), the leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), caused a national outrage and drew diplomatic condemnation on Tuesday after he arrived at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office dressed in a Nazi uniform. Sung performed a Nazi salute and carried a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf as he arrived to be questioned over allegations of signature forgery in the recall petition. The KMT’s response to the incident has shown a striking lack of contrition and decency. Rather than apologizing and distancing itself from Sung’s actions,
US President Trump weighed into the state of America’s semiconductor manufacturing when he declared, “They [Taiwan] stole it from us. They took it from us, and I don’t blame them. I give them credit.” At a prior White House event President Trump hosted TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家), head of the world’s largest and most advanced chip manufacturer, to announce a commitment to invest US$100 billion in America. The president then shifted his previously critical rhetoric on Taiwan and put off tariffs on its chips. Now we learn that the Trump Administration is conducting a “trade investigation” on semiconductors which
By now, most of Taiwan has heard Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) threats to initiate a vote of no confidence against the Cabinet. His rationale is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government’s investigation into alleged signature forgery in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) recall campaign constitutes “political persecution.” I sincerely hope he goes through with it. The opposition currently holds a majority in the Legislative Yuan, so the initiation of a no-confidence motion and its passage should be entirely within reach. If Chiang truly believes that the government is overreaching, abusing its power and targeting political opponents — then