Debate over whether the Legislative Yuan is to defer general interpellation in the new legislative session escalated yesterday following President Chen Shui-bian's (
Chen confirmed in a press conference yesterday that he had suggested that Wang Jin-pyng (
Chen said that he made the suggestion because lawmakers had just completed an interpellation session at the end of July in the previous legislative session.
Chen's confirmation was triggered by a statement made by Wang from the US on Sunday that Chen had proposed he arrange for such a delay so that Cabinet members would have time to get familiar with their jobs.
This roused fierce debate in the legislature yesterday. While opposition party lawmakers slammed Chen's idea, calling it "ridiculous," DPP legislators sided with the president, who is a DPP member.
"It's ridiculous to defer the interpellation so as to allow the Cabinet a long period of on-the-job training," said Chen Chen-sheng (
Chen's counterpart from the New Party, Lai Shyh-bao (
The Legislative Yuan holds two sessions each year -- the first session normally running from February to May and the second from September to December. The normal procedure is for lawmakers to question Cabinet members immediately after the completion of the Premier's administrative policy report, which usually takes place before the end of February and again before the end of September.
But Premier Tang Fei's (
Tseng Yung-chuan (
Perng Shaw-jiin (
The decision over the timing of the interpellation is contingent upon results of cross-party negotiations, if any, over the issue, Perng said.
Political analysts said while Chen's proposal is not flawed, legally speaking, it carries a political motivation that conflicts with opposition party interests.
Hwang Giin-tarng (
"Chen simply doesn't want to see the Cabinet being raked over the coals once again in the legislature -- at least not so soon. After all, that won't benefit his administration's image," Hwang said.
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