In what appears to be a move aimed at damage control after the National Assembly's vote to extend its term by two years until June 2002, DPP heavyweights declared yesterday that their party's deputies should abandon their statutory rights to salaries after their original term ends in May 2000.
Leaders from three major party factions reached a consensus during weekend talks, and say they will present the plan to the party's weekly Central Standing Committee on Wednesday.
The assembly passed an amendment by two major parties to extend terms of delegates and legislators as well as add the full proportional representative system for the next assembly, introduced by DPP assembly caucus leader Law I-teh (
After the vote, many DPP deputies have been bombarded with complaints from constituents, asking why the DPP supported the term extension amendment, and blaming the party for betraying the party's reform image.
"We have to prove that DPP assembly delegates only wanted to carry out assembly reform, and not because they wished to benefit themselves," said Wu Nai-jen (
Wu also stressed that the party should clarify its position to allow people to understand what DPP deputies would actually do during the extended term.
New Era faction head Chen Zau-nan (
The party's presidential candidate, meanwhile, Chen Shui-bian (
"If President Lee is really willing to drive constitutional reform, he can carry out the task. I suggest a plebiscite be held along with the presidential election next March 18," said Chen.
Chen's spokesman, Lo Wen-chia (
Members of the Justice alliance faction, established by Chen in 1993, also stressed they would join the action to save the party's reformist image.
"All Justice Alliance delegates will give people our resolute promise to accomplish the parliament reform. And even legislators of my Faction, at least me and Sheng Fu-hsiung (
Members of the DPP's legislative caucus, meanwhile, said yesterday they planned to follow the advice of its current head, Chang Chun-hung (
Chang advocates that the Central Standing Committee should only encourage Assembly deputies to abandon their salary rights, but not to force them to accept it.
"They really contributed to the reform process. Therefore the party should reward them instead of punishing them," Chang said.
WAITING GAME: The US has so far only offered a ‘best rate tariff,’ which officials assume is about 15 percent, the same as Japan, a person familiar with the matter said Taiwan and the US have completed “technical consultations” regarding tariffs and a finalized rate is expected to be released soon, Executive Yuan spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) told a news conference yesterday, as a 90-day pause on US President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs is set to expire today. The two countries have reached a “certain degree of consensus” on issues such as tariffs, nontariff trade barriers, trade facilitation, supply chain resilience and economic security, Lee said. They also discussed opportunities for cooperation, investment and procurement, she said. A joint statement is still being negotiated and would be released once the US government has made
NEW GEAR: On top of the new Tien Kung IV air defense missiles, the military is expected to place orders for a new combat vehicle next year for delivery in 2028 Mass production of Tien Kung IV (Sky Bow IV) missiles is expected to start next year, with plans to order 122 pods, the Ministry of National Defense’s (MND) latest list of regulated military material showed. The document said that the armed forces would obtain 46 pods of the air defense missiles next year and 76 pods the year after that. The Tien Kung IV is designed to intercept cruise missiles and ballistic missiles to an altitude of 70km, compared with the 60km maximum altitude achieved by the Missile Segment Enhancement variant of PAC-3 systems. A defense source said yesterday that the number of
Taiwanese exports to the US are to be subject to a 20 percent tariff starting on Thursday next week, according to an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump yesterday. The 20 percent levy was the same as the tariffs imposed on Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh by Trump. It was higher than the tariffs imposed on Japan, South Korea and the EU (15 percent), as well as those on the Philippines (19 percent). A Taiwan official with knowledge of the matter said it is a "phased" tariff rate, and negotiations would continue. "Once negotiations conclude, Taiwan will obtain a better
FLOOD RECOVERY: “Post-Typhoon Danas reconstruction special act” is expected to be approved on Thursday, the premier said, adding the flood control in affected areas would be prioritized About 200cm of rainfall fell in parts of southern Taiwan from Monday last week to 9am yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Kaohsiung’s Taoyuan District (桃源) saw total rainfall of 2,205mm, while Pingtung County’s Sandimen Township (三地門) had 2,060.5mm and Tainan’s Nanhua District (南化) 1,833mm, according to CWA data. Meanwhile, Alishan (阿里山) in Chiayi County saw 1,688mm of accumulated rain and Yunlin County’s Caoling (草嶺) had 1,025mm. The Pingtung County Government said that 831 local residents have been pre-emptively evacuated from mountainous areas. A total of 576 are staying with relatives in low-lying areas, while the other 255 are in shelters. CWA forecaster
RSS