The fallout of the presidential election demonstrates a strange phenomenon. It's as if President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) has been pressed to the bottom of a water tank and nearly choked. However, others have ridden the rising water caused by Lee's sinking weight.
Everyone except Lee is joyful. Even Vice President Lien Chan (連戰) who lost the election still has the support of young KMT officials and has taken over the chairmanship.
Despite his defeat, James Soong's (宋楚瑜) political power seems to be growing, nor have the core figures in the Soong camp been saddened by his defeat, because it seems that they are getting closer to power. Former Legislative Yuan speaker Liu Sung-fan (劉松藩), embroiled in a financial scandal, was restless before the election because he was worried he might go to jail if Soong lost. Now, Liu does not have to worry about being jailed: He is the convener of the preparatory committee for Soong's new party. Liu may well lead the party's legislators.
During the election, the anti-corruption voice was encouraged by Academia Sinica president Lee Yuan-tseh (
Now, "black gold" elements are fighting back.
The New Taiwan Political Alliance (
Taichung County Council Speaker CB Yen (顏清標), known for his gangster reputation, attended a meeting to discuss the Alliance's future. When Lee saw Yen beside Soong at election rallies, he voiced calls against "black gold." As a result, the legislators in Yen's favor may oppose Lee's appointment as premier.
The KMT is half-collapsed, but its corruption remains intact. Soong once claimed that it was the high-level KMT officials -- not the local ones -- that should take the blame for "black gold" politics. Soong's appeasement of black gold elements may help him absorb their support and attract the pro-unification New Party and some old bureaucrats to his camp.
The KMT's split has resulted in the defeat of Lien and Soong. Both of them are talking about reform. But the fact is that those who are talking most about reform are the ones who need reforming the most. For the Taiwanese, the KMT's anti-democratic ways fave nothing to do with eliminating "black gold."
Chen Ro-jinn is a freelance writer.
Many foreigners, particularly Germans, are struck by the efficiency of Taiwan’s administration in routine matters. Driver’s licenses, household registrations and similar procedures are handled swiftly, often decided on the spot, and occasionally even accompanied by preferential treatment. However, this efficiency does not extend to all areas of government. Any foreigner with long-term residency in Taiwan — just like any Taiwanese — would have encountered the opposite: agencies, most notably the police, refusing to accept complaints and sending applicants away at the counter without consideration. This kind of behavior, although less common in other agencies, still occurs far too often. Two cases
In a summer of intense political maneuvering, Taiwanese, whose democratic vibrancy is a constant rebuke to Beijing’s authoritarianism, delivered a powerful verdict not on China, but on their own political leaders. Two high-profile recall campaigns, driven by the ruling party against its opposition, collapsed in failure. It was a clear signal that after months of bitter confrontation, the Taiwanese public is demanding a shift from perpetual campaign mode to the hard work of governing. For Washington and other world capitals, this is more than a distant political drama. The stability of Taiwan is vital, as it serves as a key player
Yesterday’s recall and referendum votes garnered mixed results for the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). All seven of the KMT lawmakers up for a recall survived the vote, and by a convincing margin of, on average, 35 percent agreeing versus 65 percent disagreeing. However, the referendum sponsored by the KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) on restarting the operation of the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County failed. Despite three times more “yes” votes than “no,” voter turnout fell short of the threshold. The nation needs energy stability, especially with the complex international security situation and significant challenges regarding
Most countries are commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with condemnations of militarism and imperialism, and commemoration of the global catastrophe wrought by the war. On the other hand, China is to hold a military parade. According to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency, Beijing is conducting the military parade in Tiananmen Square on Sept. 3 to “mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.” However, during World War II, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) had not yet been established. It