The KMT’s winter of chaos
As a cold air mass arrived from China during the weekend of the winter solstice, I was originally in high spirits, with a craving for glutinous rice balls (tangyuan, 湯圓). However, my joy was overshadowed by the chaos in the Legislative Yuan, which shrouded me in the winter’s cold and unforgiving atmosphere. I could not help but worry whether Taiwan’s democracy would become damaged beyond repair.
Since the start of the legislative session, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party legislators have leveraged their numerical advantage to blatantly and repeatedly propose outrageous, constitution-damaging bills that undermine our governance. If this lack of restraint continues, the Chinese Communist Party could simply watch the flames from afar and collect the spoils without lifting a finger. Over time, Taiwan risks falling prey to China — the lessons to be drawn from Hong Kong’s experience should not be ignored.
However, to protect their livelihoods, most kind and diligent Taiwanese must live on as usual, working their daily jobs to earn money and bring food to the table. This is understandable — but at the same time, the latest developments in the Legislative Yuan are inextricable from their own self-interest.
All laws written and implemented would eventually affect the people. Erroneous, misguided and even regressive laws would leave generational impacts. It is thanks to the many pioneers that spent their lives fighting for Taiwan’s democracy that our country has come this far today. As the new generation, reaping the benefits of their sacrifices, could we really allow our indifference to destroy Taiwan’s democracy?
In the next election, earnestly and carefully choose candidates whose ideas would lead to national progress and who understand and value democracy and rule of law.
KMT legislators should think of the people they serve and turn back before it is too late. In keeping with the spirit of the winter solstice, here is some food for thought: “A blind person eating tangyuan knows what is inside.”
When it comes to the KMT’s schemes, the public sees the truth in their hearts.
Liu Ping-sheng,
Taipei
Trying to force a partnership between Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) and Intel Corp would be a wildly complex ordeal. Already, the reported request from the Trump administration for TSMC to take a controlling stake in Intel’s US factories is facing valid questions about feasibility from all sides. Washington would likely not support a foreign company operating Intel’s domestic factories, Reuters reported — just look at how that is going over in the steel sector. Meanwhile, many in Taiwan are concerned about the company being forced to transfer its bleeding-edge tech capabilities and give up its strategic advantage. This is especially
US President Donald Trump last week announced plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on eight countries. As Taiwan, a key hub for semiconductor manufacturing, is among them, the policy would significantly affect the country. In response, Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) dispatched two officials to the US for negotiations, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC) board of directors convened its first-ever meeting in the US. Those developments highlight how the US’ unstable trade policies are posing a growing threat to Taiwan. Can the US truly gain an advantage in chip manufacturing by reversing trade liberalization? Is it realistic to
The US Department of State has removed the phrase “we do not support Taiwan independence” in its updated Taiwan-US relations fact sheet, which instead iterates that “we expect cross-strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to the people on both sides of the Strait.” This shows a tougher stance rejecting China’s false claims of sovereignty over Taiwan. Since switching formal diplomatic recognition from the Republic of China to the People’s Republic of China in 1979, the US government has continually indicated that it “does not support Taiwan independence.” The phrase was removed in 2022
US President Donald Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have each given their thoughts on Russia’s war with Ukraine. There are a few proponents of US skepticism in Taiwan taking advantage of developments to write articles claiming that the US would arbitrarily abandon Ukraine. The reality is that when one understands Trump’s negotiating habits, one sees that he brings up all variables of a situation prior to discussion, using broad negotiations to take charge. As for his ultimate goals and the aces up his sleeve, he wants to keep things vague for
RSS