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
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hypersonic missile carried a simple message to the West over Ukraine: Back off, and if you do not, Russia reserves the right to hit US and British military facilities. Russia fired a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile known as “Oreshnik,” or Hazel Tree, at Ukraine on Thursday in what Putin said was a direct response to strikes on Russia by Ukrainian forces with US and British missiles. In a special statement from the Kremlin just after 8pm in Moscow that day, the Russian president said the war was escalating toward a global conflict, although he avoided any nuclear
Would China attack Taiwan during the American lame duck period? For months, there have been worries that Beijing would seek to take advantage of an American president slowed by age and a potentially chaotic transition to make a move on Taiwan. In the wake of an American election that ended without drama, that far-fetched scenario will likely prove purely hypothetical. But there is a crisis brewing elsewhere in Asia — one with which US president-elect Donald Trump may have to deal during his first days in office. Tensions between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea have been at
US President-elect Donald Trump has been declaring his personnel picks for his incoming Cabinet. Many are staunchly opposed to China. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Trump’s nomination to be his next secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, said that since 2000, China has had a long-term plan to destroy the US. US Representative Mike Waltz, nominated by Trump to be national security adviser, has stated that the US is engaged in a cold war with China, and has criticized Canada as being weak on Beijing. Even more vocal and unequivocal than these two Cabinet picks is Trump’s nomination for
An article written by Uber Eats Taiwan general manager Chai Lee (李佳穎) published in the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) on Tuesday said that Uber Eats promises to engage in negotiations to create a “win-win” situation. The article asserted that Uber Eats’ acquisition of Foodpanda would bring about better results for Taiwan. The National Delivery Industrial Union (NDIU), a trade union for food couriers in Taiwan, would like to express its doubts about and dissatisfaction with Lee’s article — if Uber Eats truly has a clear plan, why has this so-called plan not been presented at relevant
RSS