Following conflict and then compromise, the Cabinet finally sent the Cabinet Organizational Act (
Over the past three decades, numerous attempts to amend the act were stillborn, mainly because the ministries looked after their own interests. The Cabinet's administrative duties are complex and constantly changing and must be handled by specialized agencies. On the other hand, there are demands that structures, human resources and budgets be streamlined, and arguments for increasing or decreasing the budget are constantly being debated. In addition, officials in institutions or positions about to be merged have done everything in their power to keep the bill from passing.
Although the government and opposition reached a consensus on revising the act during the previous legislative session, the amendment was not completed and the process had to be repeated.
To keep the consensus alive, the Cabinet agreed to set up a human resources office for retired military personnel.
Several Cabinet members opposed the suggestion at last week's Cabinet meeting, but it was accepted following negotiations. The debate in the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) legislative caucus overturned a past suggestion that a ministry for retired military staff be established, instead proposing a ministry for national defense and retired military personnel.
The marine ministry that KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (
It will be very difficult to pass the amendment because there is always someone who is not satisfied with the latest change. But this is a time of political uncertainty, which could be the best opportunity to pass the amendment. The Cabinet will resign, leaving vested interests with little power to block organizational changes. This serves to diminish pressure and facilitate discussion of the amendment based on the existing agreement.
Some people in Ma's camp and Democratic Progressive Party candidate Frank Hsieh's (
Even before taking up the presidency, South Korean president-elect Lee Myung-bak began streamlining the government and declared that the original 18 ministries would be streamlined to 13 ministries and two national commissions. He also appointed new Cabinet members.
After dozens of years of attempted reform, Taiwan's politicians are still busy promoting their own ideas. The difference in efficiency is telling.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) were born under the sign of Gemini. Geminis are known for their intelligence, creativity, adaptability and flexibility. It is unlikely, then, that the trade conflict between the US and China would escalate into a catastrophic collision. It is more probable that both sides would seek a way to de-escalate, paving the way for a Trump-Xi summit that allows the global economy some breathing room. Practically speaking, China and the US have vulnerabilities, and a prolonged trade war would be damaging for both. In the US, the electoral system means that public opinion
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