The Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) resounding election victory has given it more than a two-thirds legislative majority and the power to impeach the president. With the four seats of the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union, it in effect has a three-quarters majority and the power to amend the Constitution.
However, this landslide victory could be both a blessing and a curse for the KMT. The party now has no excuses and must take responsibility for the legislature's performance -- good or bad. After eight years in opposition, there is concern that the party will be tempted by the power and revert to its old ways as it deals with conflicts and challenges.
The party is facing its first test in the race for deputy legislative speaker. While Wang Jin-pyng (
The party also has to answer questions on where its priorities lie. Before the polls, KMT legislators had proposed 13 money-guzzling bills worth NT$4.7 trillion (US$145 billion) and clearly aimed at specific groups. They include bills on constructing private roads, pensions and subsidies for civil servants, teachers and military personnel and welfare measures for retired soldiers. Half of these bills have passed the second reading, despite opposition from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). It remains to be seen whether the KMT cares more for the general public or only its supporters.
Furthermore, the KMT still has to address the issues of its stolen assets and official corruption. KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (
Because of its big legislative win, expectations are high that the KMT will go on to repeat its victory in the March 22 presidential poll. But along with this heady sense of victory, media reports say the KMT fears power-inebriated lawmakers are emerging and might spoil the party's chances. The KMT is reportedly planning to call a recess three days after the new legislature convenes on Feb. 22 and the election of the speaker and deputy speaker. This is to allow KMT lawmakers to return to their constituencies to campaign for the party's presidential candidate, Ma Ying-jeou (
The legislative elections are over. The outcome of the presidential campaign now depends on Ma and his DPP rival, Frank Hsieh (
There is much evidence that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is sending soldiers from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and is learning lessons for a future war against Taiwan. Until now, the CCP has claimed that they have not sent PLA personnel to support Russian aggression. On 18 April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelinskiy announced that the CCP is supplying war supplies such as gunpowder, artillery, and weapons subcomponents to Russia. When Zelinskiy announced on 9 April that the Ukrainian Army had captured two Chinese nationals fighting with Russians on the front line with details
On a quiet lane in Taipei’s central Daan District (大安), an otherwise unremarkable high-rise is marked by a police guard and a tawdry A4 printout from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicating an “embassy area.” Keen observers would see the emblem of the Holy See, one of Taiwan’s 12 so-called “diplomatic allies.” Unlike Taipei’s other embassies and quasi-consulates, no national flag flies there, nor is there a plaque indicating what country’s embassy this is. Visitors hoping to sign a condolence book for the late Pope Francis would instead have to visit the Italian Trade Office, adjacent to Taipei 101. The death of
By now, most of Taiwan has heard Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) threats to initiate a vote of no confidence against the Cabinet. His rationale is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government’s investigation into alleged signature forgery in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) recall campaign constitutes “political persecution.” I sincerely hope he goes through with it. The opposition currently holds a majority in the Legislative Yuan, so the initiation of a no-confidence motion and its passage should be entirely within reach. If Chiang truly believes that the government is overreaching, abusing its power and targeting political opponents — then
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), joined by the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), held a protest on Saturday on Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei. They were essentially standing for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which is anxious about the mass recall campaign against KMT legislators. President William Lai (賴清德) said that if the opposition parties truly wanted to fight dictatorship, they should do so in Tiananmen Square — and at the very least, refrain from groveling to Chinese officials during their visits to China, alluding to meetings between KMT members and Chinese authorities. Now that China has been defined as a foreign hostile force,
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