Scandals and feuds aren't like old soldiers -- they don't just fade away. The latest scandals to monopolize the headlines are also proof that it will take years before all the dirty laundry hidden by the KMT government is discovered and dealt with. At the root of the scandals is a struggle for control over Taiwan's national security apparatus. But this power struggle is linked to the old grudge-match between former president Lee Teng-hui (
Control Yuan member Kang Ning-hsiang (
Kang's report also addresses the murder of navy Captain Yin Ching-feng (
But Kang's report was almost completely over-shadowed yesterday by the growing furor over claims by former National Security Bureau (NSB) cashier -- and alleged embezzler -- Liu Kuan-chun (
The timing of Liu's leaks is certainly a sign that the power struggle between the old and new guard -- between mainlander and Taiwanese -- in the national security institutions that erupted after President Chen Shui-bian (
The NSB was quick to suggest that Next magazine might have violated national security laws by reporting Liu's allegations, although it didn't seem equally upset with the China Times for doing exactly the same thing. Despite an attempt to block publication of Next's latest issue, both the magazine and the China Times gave extensive coverage to Liu's allegations yesterday.
More allegations and counter-allegations will surely be aired in the coming days. But one thing is clear. The attempt to place blame for past wrongdoings should not sideline efforts to prevent such mistakes from happening again.
Because military procurement programs have long been conducted behind closed doors and without outside supervision, kickbacks and illegal deals were far too easy to arrange. Nothing was allowed to interrupt such corruption, even if it meant murder. Secret funds, especially those for national security agencies, are also open invitations for abuse. Because only a handful of people control the NSB's secret funds, the lack of supervision made it easier to embezzle money from them.
A more transparent mechanism for administrative and legislative supervision over all government budgets and spending -- military or civilian -- is needed. There are ways to do provide such supervision without damaging national security. This is the only way to prevent a repeat of such incidents and to truly say goodbye to the dark times.
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
Can US dialogue and cooperation with the communist dictatorship in Beijing help avert a Taiwan Strait crisis? Or is US President Joe Biden playing into Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) hands? With America preoccupied with the wars in Europe and the Middle East, Biden is seeking better relations with Xi’s regime. The goal is to responsibly manage US-China competition and prevent unintended conflict, thereby hoping to create greater space for the two countries to work together in areas where their interests align. The existing wars have already stretched US military resources thin, and the last thing Biden wants is yet another war.
As Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s party won by a landslide in Sunday’s parliamentary election, it is a good time to take another look at recent developments in the Maldivian foreign policy. While Muizzu has been promoting his “Maldives First” policy, the agenda seems to have lost sight of a number of factors. Contemporary Maldivian policy serves as a stark illustration of how a blend of missteps in public posturing, populist agendas and inattentive leadership can lead to diplomatic setbacks and damage a country’s long-term foreign policy priorities. Over the past few months, Maldivian foreign policy has entangled itself in playing
A group of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers led by the party’s legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (?) are to visit Beijing for four days this week, but some have questioned the timing and purpose of the visit, which demonstrates the KMT caucus’ increasing arrogance. Fu on Wednesday last week confirmed that following an invitation by Beijing, he would lead a group of lawmakers to China from Thursday to Sunday to discuss tourism and agricultural exports, but he refused to say whether they would meet with Chinese officials. That the visit is taking place during the legislative session and in the aftermath