In an interview Sunday, President Chen Shui-bian (
China believes that the attempt to abolish the assembly and write referendums into the Constitution are part of a plot to achieve de jure independence. It hopes Washington and Taiwan's opposition parties can stop the elections. Through its invitations to opposition leaders, Beijing has them to oppose Taiwan's official policies and foment political chaos. At the same time, it is also trying to influence Taiwan's domestic affairs through international pressure. The use of this two-pronged strategy cannot be overlooked.
In inviting both Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (
There is also a rift between the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Taiwan Solidarity Union due to Chen's flipflops in China policy and the DPP's stance on single-district, two-ballot electoral system. Opinion polls show a sharp decline in the DPP's popularity, creating a grave political crisis.
This crisis is the direct result of Chen's failure to maintain a clear line regarding "Taiwan awareness." He broke his campaign promise about changing the nation's name and drafting a new constitution, thereby splitting the green camp. His repeated U-turns on policy have left DPP members at a loss. This has led to internal pressure that could split the party. Chen must take the political responsibility for this.
In a bid to salvage the DPP's chances in Saturday's elections, Chen has been trying to clarify his positions -- even while making yet another U-turn to condemn both Lien and Soong. Whether his efforts at this late date will be enough to help the pan-greens overcome the pan-blue camp and their substantial relations with Beijing is anyone's guess.
Although the DPP and the TSU are divided over "single-member districts," they agree upon the need to abolish the National Assembly, the inclusion of the right of referendum in the Constitution and other major issues. This is relevant to Taiwan's constitutional development. Beijing is greatly concerned over the assembly elections and is using its considerable influence to affect it, so Taiwan's politicians must be wary of China's tricks.
After Chen has rallied his DPP colleagues, the party should engage in high level dialogue with the TSU and bring an end to its current self-destructive conflict. At all costs they must avoid letting constitutional reform collapse in the final stretch.
China has not been a top-tier issue for much of the second Trump administration. Instead, Trump has focused considerable energy on Ukraine, Israel, Iran, and defending America’s borders. At home, Trump has been busy passing an overhaul to America’s tax system, deporting unlawful immigrants, and targeting his political enemies. More recently, he has been consumed by the fallout of a political scandal involving his past relationship with a disgraced sex offender. When the administration has focused on China, there has not been a consistent throughline in its approach or its public statements. This lack of overarching narrative likely reflects a combination
Behind the gloating, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) must be letting out a big sigh of relief. Its powerful party machine saved the day, but it took that much effort just to survive a challenge mounted by a humble group of active citizens, and in areas where the KMT is historically strong. On the other hand, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) must now realize how toxic a brand it has become to many voters. The campaigners’ amateurism is what made them feel valid and authentic, but when the DPP belatedly inserted itself into the campaign, it did more harm than good. The
For nearly eight decades, Taiwan has provided a home for, and shielded and nurtured, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). After losing the Chinese Civil War in 1949, the KMT fled to Taiwan, bringing with it hundreds of thousands of soldiers, along with people who would go on to become public servants and educators. The party settled and prospered in Taiwan, and it developed and governed the nation. Taiwan gave the party a second chance. It was Taiwanese who rebuilt order from the ruins of war, through their own sweat and tears. It was Taiwanese who joined forces with democratic activists
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) held a news conference to celebrate his party’s success in surviving Saturday’s mass recall vote, shortly after the final results were confirmed. While the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) would have much preferred a different result, it was not a defeat for the DPP in the same sense that it was a victory for the KMT: Only KMT legislators were facing recalls. That alone should have given Chu cause to reflect, acknowledge any fault, or perhaps even consider apologizing to his party and the nation. However, based on his speech, Chu showed
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