Control Yuan President Wang Chien-shien yesterday caused a furor in the Control Yuan by saying that it might as well shut down because it was not able to perform its purpose of serving justice, after it failed to impeach Keelung Mayor Chang Tong-rong (張通榮), who was convicted by the Keelung District Court of using his influence to persuade authorities to let a woman who had allegedly driven under the influence of alcohol and assaulted a policewoman off with no charges.
It was the second time the impeachment motion failed. Under current regulations, the Control Yuan will not be able to try to impeach Chang again on the issue.
Wang said he originally thought the second meeting would pass the motion, particularly since the media had long labeled the Control Yuan “incompetent.”
Stating that he was very sorry to hear it had not passed, Wang said: “If the Control Yuan cannot provide justice and equality, it might be better to abolish the branch.”
Wang said that Control Yuan positions were often used as bargaining chips or rewards for political favors, adding that if something was not done, the quality of the Control Yuan will continue to go downhill and become one of the “three institutions brewing chaos” to the nation and its people.
Wang was referencing comments by former department of health minister Yaung Chih-liang (楊志良), who once said that “the media, the Legislative Yuan and the Control Yuan are the three parties creating chaos in Taiwan.”
If Republic of China founding father Sun Yat-sen (孫中山), who designed the Control Yuan as one of the five government branches, knew of the nation’s current situation, he “would cry a river” at how his progeny misconstrued the Control Yuan system, Wang said.
“I’m not saying that the Control Yuan with its current members is persecuting people, but the fact that we are seeing very little effect while spending such great amounts of money shows that we have come to a fork in the road,” Wang said.
“If we don’t change, we will not be far from the fate former minister Yang had ascribed to the Control Yuan,” he added.
Wang said the Legislative Yuan — with its powers of constitutional amendment — should “actively broach the subject and review the Control Yuan system” and either make it smaller, or remove it completely.
Wang said he did not care if his comments created a backlash from other Control Yuan members.
“It’s not a personal issue I’m talking about, but rather the good of Taiwan,” he said.
In response, Control Yuan members said that if the Control Yuan president is making such comments, “he should perhaps resign first.”
“What has the Control Yuan President done over the past five years?” Control Yuan member Lee Ful-dien (李復甸) said when reached for comment.
Wang had done nothing to maintain the institution’s health, nor had he done anything that would further its goals, Lee said, adding that Wang had only placed more and more limitations on Control Yuan members’ powers.
“I see no reason, no right, for him to criticize us while we are working hard on cases,” Lee said.
Control Yuan member Chien Lin Whei-jun (錢林慧君) said that if there was a need to “review,” the Control Yuan should review itself.
“Wang is not doing his job correctly,” she said.
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION: The UK would continue to reinforce ties with Taiwan ‘in a wide range of areas’ as a part of a ‘strong unofficial relationship,’ a paper said The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations. Lammy replied “yes” to both questions. The
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
AMENDMENT: Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of high-temperature days, affecting economic productivity and public health, experts said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) is considering amending the Meteorological Act (氣象法) to classify “high temperatures” as “hazardous weather,” providing a legal basis for work or school closures due to extreme heat. CWA Administrator Lu Kuo-chen (呂國臣) yesterday said the agency plans to submit the proposed amendments to the Executive Yuan for review in the fourth quarter this year. The CWA has been monitoring high-temperature trends for an extended period, and the agency contributes scientific data to the recently established High Temperature Response Alliance led by the Ministry of Environment, Lu said. The data include temperature, humidity, radiation intensity and ambient wind,
SECOND SPEECH: All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist the CCP, despite their differences, the president said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday discussed how pro-Taiwan and pro-Republic of China (ROC) groups can agree to maintain solidarity on the issue of protecting Taiwan and resisting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The talk, delivered last night at Taoyuan’s Hakka Youth Association, was the second in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. Citing Taiwanese democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui’s (蔣渭水) slogan that solidarity brings strength, Lai said it was a call for political parties to find consensus amid disagreements on behalf of bettering the nation. All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist