The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is looking more determined to force President Chen Shui-bian (
KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
"The first lady's relationship with Chen You-hao (
Ma said the KMT caucus will make the final decision on whether to support a recall motion or try to dismiss the Cabinet. However, KMT Taipei City Councilor Lin Yi-hua (林奕華), who is also a member of the Central Standing Committee, later confirmed that the party will make the announcement on the recall proposal today.
The KMT is also initiating a signature drive called "A-bian steps down to save Taiwan" to encourage the public to demand Chen's resignation, and it is planning an anti-Chen rally for Saturday in Kaohsiung -- even though the People First Party (PFP) is sponsoring a similar rally in Taipei that day.
PFP caucus whip Lu Hsueh-chang (
Tseng Yung-chuan (
Lu tried to make the best of the split schedule.
"Despite having different protest rallies, the PFP and KMT have the same goal -- the president has to resign," he said.
Nevertheless, the KMT's decision to hold its own rally has rankled some PFP members.
"[Ma] is just like a runaway doctor. While an expectant mother [the PFP] is going to give birth [Chen resigning as a result of the PFP's protests], the doctor chooses to run away, using a business trip to Kaohsiung as an excuse," PFP Legislator Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄) said.
"I think a runaway doctor is beneath contempt," Liu said.
"Ma and the KMT initially opposed recalling the president. But now, when they realize that such a demand is gradually gaining public support, they have started to change their tune," PFP Legislator Lee Hung-chun (
Some PFP councilors urged Ma to seek pan-blue unity.
"We should work together to organize a cross-party and cross-ethnicity rally and invite everyone who is dissatisfied with Chen Shui-bian to join the protest," Taipei City Council Deputy Speaker Lee Hsin (
However, Hsin, along with Taipei City councilors Huang Shan-shan (
"You were attending an event held by a pan-blue ally, but mobilized a big group of police to protect you. Do you think pan-blue supporters will hurt you?" Huang You-chong asked.
"Last Thursday, you said you would not attend the PFP rally. Were you trying to compete against [PFP] Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜)? Will you come to the PFP's rally this weekend?" Lee asked.
Ma told the councilors that he had changed his mind because the KMT's national convention finished early.
also see story:
Editorial: Time for cooler heads
Taiwan yesterday denied Chinese allegations that its military was behind a cyberattack on a technology company in Guangzhou, after city authorities issued warrants for 20 suspects. The Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau earlier yesterday issued warrants for 20 people it identified as members of the Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command (ICEFCOM). The bureau alleged they were behind a May 20 cyberattack targeting the backend system of a self-service facility at the company. “ICEFCOM, under Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, directed the illegal attack,” the warrant says. The bureau placed a bounty of 10,000 yuan (US$1,392) on each of the 20 people named in
The High Court yesterday found a New Taipei City woman guilty of charges related to helping Beijing secure surrender agreements from military service members. Lee Huei-hsin (李慧馨) was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison for breaching the National Security Act (國家安全法), making illegal compacts with government employees and bribery, the court said. The verdict is final. Lee, the manager of a temple in the city’s Lujhou District (蘆洲), was accused of arranging for eight service members to make surrender pledges to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in exchange for money, the court said. The pledges, which required them to provide identification
Nine retired generals from Taiwan, Japan and the US have been invited to participate in a tabletop exercise hosted by the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation tomorrow and Wednesday that simulates a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan in 2030, the foundation said yesterday. The five retired Taiwanese generals would include retired admiral Lee Hsi-min (李喜明), joined by retired US Navy admiral Michael Mullen and former chief of staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces general Shigeru Iwasaki, it said. The simulation aims to offer strategic insights into regional security and peace in the Taiwan Strait, it added. Foundation chair Huang Huang-hsiung
’DISTORTION’: Beijing’s assertion that the US agreed with its position on Taiwan is a recurring tactic it uses to falsely reinforce its sovereignty claims, MOFA said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said Chinese state media deliberately distorted Taiwan’s sovereign status, following reports that US President Donald Trump agreed to uphold the “one China” policy in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平). During the more than one-hour-long call, Xi urged Trump to retreat from trade measures that roiled the global economy and cautioned him against threatening steps on Taiwan, a Chinese government summary of the call said. China’s official Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying that the US should handle the Taiwan issue cautiously and avoid the two countries being drawn into dangerous
RSS