The Alliance of Fairness and Justice (AFJ) was established yesterday in a bid to form a "third force" in next year's presidential campaign.
The alliance, made up of minority groups, aims to put forward welfare policies and push for the establishment of a social security network.
The alliance's convener, ex-DPP legislator Chien Hsi-chieh, said the alliance is a new social movement pursuing fairness and justice.
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
The alliance, nicknamed the Pan-Purple Alliance, with purple representing minorities, has come up with the slogan: "Goodbye to shortsightedness and immediate benefit. Pursue fairness and justice."
Chen denied media reports that the alliance had contacted old-guard DPP politician Lin I-hsiung (
Chen said actions taken by the alliance require the consent of its board, and that the board has not discussed the issue of nominating a presidential candidate.
He did not exclude the possibility of a nomination, however, or the possibility of the alliance becoming a political party in the future.
In terms of policy, the alliance made welfare proposals yesterday based on a socialist model.
"We are asking the government to increase taxes on rich people and corporations," said Wang Jung-chang (王榮璋), secretary-general of the Alliance for Handicapped People (殘障聯盟) and the AFJ spokesman.
"Instead of increasing stipends for old people and low-income families, the government should push for elderly citizens' welfare. Furthermore, the welfare systems for old people and the handicapped should be integrated and strengthened," Wang said.
The alliance also asked the government for clear policies on immigrants and to create a special department in charge of related affairs such as protecting the work and education rights of foreign brides and their children.
Chien said the formation of the alliance was partly due to minority groups' disappointment with the DPP's performance over the past three years. He added he didn't have any hope the KMT would understand the needs of minority groups.
Participating groups in the alliance include Chien's own Peacetime Foundation of Taiwan (台灣和平促進文教基金會), the Alliance for Handicapped People (殘障聯盟), the National Teachers' Association (全國教師會), the Alliance for Old People's Welfare Promotion (老人福利推動聯盟), the Parents' Association for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (智障者家長總會), Awakening Foundation (婦女新知), Eden Social Welfare Foundation (伊甸社會福利基金會), Taiwan Labor Front (台灣勞工陣線) and The National Federation of Banks' Employees Union (銀行員工會全國聯合會).
Also See Story:
Bid ups stock of Chien Hsi-chieh
NEXT GENERATION: The four plants in the Central Taiwan Science Park, designated Fab 25, would consist of four 1.4-nanometer wafer manufacturing plants, TSMC said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) plans to begin construction of four new plants later this year, with the aim to officially launch production of 2-nanometer semiconductor wafers by late 2028, Central Taiwan Science Park Bureau director-general Hsu Maw-shin (許茂新) said. Hsu made the announcement at an event on Friday evening celebrating the Central Taiwan Science Park’s 22nd anniversary. The second phase of the park’s expansion would commence with the initial construction of water detention ponds and other structures aimed at soil and water conservation, Hsu said. TSMC has officially leased the land, with the Central Taiwan Science Park having handed over the
AUKUS: The Australian Ambassador to the US said his country is working with the Pentagon and he is confident that submarine issues will be resolved Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd on Friday said that if Taiwan were to fall to China’s occupation, it would unleash China’s military capacities and capabilities more broadly. He also said his country is working with the Pentagon on the US Department of Defense’s review of the AUKUS submarine project and is confident that all issues raised will be resolved. Rudd, who served as Australian prime minister from 2007 to 2010 and for three months in 2013, made the remarks at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado and stressed the longstanding US-Australia alliance and his close relationship with the US Undersecretary
‘WORLD WAR III’: Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said the aid would inflame tensions, but her amendment was rejected 421 votes against six The US House of Representatives on Friday passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal 2026, which includes US$500 million for Taiwan. The bill, which totals US$831.5 billion in discretionary spending, passed in a 221-209 vote. According to the bill, the funds for Taiwan would be administered by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency and would remain available through Sept. 30, 2027, for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative. The legislation authorizes the US Secretary of Defense, with the agreement of the US Secretary of State, to use the funds to assist Taiwan in procuring defense articles and services, and military training. Republican Representative
TAIWAN IS TAIWAN: US Representative Tom Tiffany said the amendment was not controversial, as ‘Taiwan is not — nor has it ever been — part of Communist China’ The US House of Representatives on Friday passed an amendment banning the US Department of Defense from creating, buying or displaying any map that shows Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The “Honest Maps” amendment was approved in a voice vote on Friday as part of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for the 2026 fiscal year. The amendment prohibits using any funds from the act to create, buy or display maps that show Taiwan, Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu, Wuciou (烏坵), Green Island (綠島) or Orchid Island (Lanyu, 蘭嶼) as part of the PRC. The act includes US$831.5 billion in
RSS