Coming under heavy fire from opposition parties for saying Thursday that his administration has "removed the rocks from our track," President Chen Shui-bian (
"It was a reference to the DPP, which, although it is the ruling party, has been so vocal and fulsome in its criticism of the new government during the past four months, that it has obstructed the new government's development," said Chen as he inspected an industrial park in Changhua County.
Chen said that the public should not associate his remark with the Cabinet reshuffle that followed the resignation of former premier Tang Fei (唐飛). He said that the DPP shouldered the lion's share of responsibility for the smooth running of the government.
On Thursday Chen said, "We recognize that the government had problems during the past four and a half months, just like a train which is jolted because the track is bumpy, but we have removed the rocks from our track ... The train has been repaired and can now get back on the track."
Opposition parties immediately complained that Chen's remarks were an insult to Tang Fei, who resigned as premier on Tuesday night, saying that the president's "improper comments" had revealed his "blunt character."
A Presidential Office official told the media on Thursday night that the word "rocks" was a symbol for issues, including the "old bureaucracy."
People First Party (PFP) lawmakers, however, still said yesterday that Chen was dishonorable, saying "Tang was not the rock, although some Cabinet members might be considered small rocks."
"And if Chen did not realize what people really expect, then he is the big rock obstructing our country's economic development," said PFP legislative caucus leader Chen Chao-jung (陳朝容).
KMT lawmaker Chen Horng-chi (陳鴻基) said that he was confused by the president's remarks. "It made me feel that Chen is an ungrateful politician who abandoned Tang and even kicked him as he left."
Meanwhile, DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (
Leaders of the DPP's New Tide faction (新潮流系) said the party would engage in self-reflection and, henceforth, support the government. Members of the New Tide faction have often been critical of the Chen administration.
"Some DPP factions have had different ideas from President Chen in the past months. But now the DPP should be completely as one with the government," said DPP lawmaker Lee Wen-chung (李文忠). "And if the president has pointed the finger at us, we accept this and will reflect on the situation."
GET TO SAFETY: Authorities were scrambling to evacuate nearly 700 people in Hualien County to prepare for overflow from a natural dam formed by a previous typhoon Typhoon Podul yesterday intensified and accelerated as it neared Taiwan, with the impact expected to be felt overnight, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, while the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration announced that schools and government offices in most areas of southern and eastern Taiwan would be closed today. The affected regions are Tainan, Kaohsiung and Chiayi City, and Yunlin, Chiayi, Pingtung, Hualien and Taitung counties, as well as the outlying Penghu County. As of 10pm last night, the storm was about 370km east-southeast of Taitung County, moving west-northwest at 27kph, CWA data showed. With a radius of 120km, Podul is carrying maximum sustained
Tropical Storm Podul strengthened into a typhoon at 8pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, with a sea warning to be issued late last night or early this morning. As of 8pm, the typhoon was 1,020km east of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, moving west at 23kph. The storm carried maximum sustained winds of 119kph and gusts reaching 155kph, the CWA said. Based on the tropical storm’s trajectory, a land warning could be issued any time from midday today, it added. CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張竣堯) said Podul is a fast-moving storm that is forecast to bring its heaviest rainfall and strongest
TRAJECTORY: The severe tropical storm is predicted to be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday, and would influence the nation to varying degrees, a forecaster said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it would likely issue a sea warning for Tropical Storm Podul tomorrow morning and a land warning that evening at the earliest. CWA forecaster Lin Ting-yi (林定宜) said the severe tropical storm is predicted to be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was moving west at 21kph and packing sustained winds of 108kph and gusts of up to 136.8kph, the CWA said. Lin said that the tropical storm was about 1,710km east of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, with two possible trajectories over the next one
TALKS CONTINUE: Although an agreement has not been reached with Washington, lowering the tariff from 32 percent to 20 percent is still progress, the vice premier said Taiwan would strive for a better US tariff rate in negotiations, with the goal being not just lowering the current 20-percent tariff rate, but also securing an exemption from tariff stacking, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) said yesterday. Cheng made the remarks at a news conference at the Executive Yuan explaining the new US tariffs and the government’s plans for supporting affected industries. US President Donald Trump on July 31 announced a new tariff rate of 20 percent on Taiwan’s exports to the US starting on Thursday last week, and the Office of Trade Negotiations on Friday confirmed that it
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