Rumors that several of the president's aides may participate in the upcoming legislative elections signal the president's resolve to overturn the DPP's minority status in the legislature and to exert more influence in the DPP caucus, politicians and political analysts said yesterday.
On Sunday, Vice Chairman of the Council for Cultural Affairs Luo Wen-chia (羅文嘉) and Vice Chairman of the Executive Yuan's Research, Development and Evaluation Commission You Ying-lung (游盈隆) -- two leading campaign strategists of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) -- made public their desire to enter this December's legislative campaign race.
Reports have also said that Hsiao Bi-khim (
Both Hsiao and Lee will make a final decision on the matter by next Monday when registration for the DPP primary starts.
"We can see the DPP administration of the past eight months has been far from smooth due to the DPP being a minority in the legislature," said Wang Yeh-li (王業立), chairman of the political science department at Tunghai University.
"It is only natural that the president wants to ameliorate this situation by trying to increase the DPP's share of legislative seats -- particularly if [those seats go to] the president's loyal followers," Wang said, adding that because the DPP caucus is a rather autonomous entity, Chen has very little control over it.
"It would create a much easier situation for Chen if these close aides were his `megaphone' both at the legislature and in the DPP's legislative caucus," he said.
New Party lawmaker Cheng Long-shui (
"We've found that the president is incapable of doing what he wishes at the legislature. The obstacles stem from not only the opposition, but also the DPP caucus. With these people entering the legislature, on the one hand, the legislative seats will be increased, and on the other hand, Chen can silence the noise coming from the DPP legislative caucus," Cheng said.
However, New Party lawmaker Lai Shyh-bao (
"It requires abundant experience to be an influential figure at the legislature. Carrying the president's halo, there shouldn't be any problem for them to get elected. Nonetheless, their joining would only increase the DPP seats at the legislature. Unless they become caucus leaders immediately, I am skeptical of their influence," Lai said.
Lin Cho-shui (林濁水), a DPP legislator, also cautioned that these legislative hopefuls should not overestimate their own strength once elected.
"It wouldn't be easy for newcomers to play too significant a role in the DPP caucus given their lack of experience and seniority. What they should look into is enhancing the DPP's overall power at the legislature instead," Lin said.
RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
CHINA REACTS: The patrol and reconnaissance plane ‘transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,’ the 7th Fleet said, while Taipei said it saw nothing unusual The US 7th Fleet yesterday said that a US Navy P-8A Poseidon flew through the Taiwan Strait, a day after US and Chinese defense heads held their first talks since November 2022 in an effort to reduce regional tensions. The patrol and reconnaissance plane “transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,” the 7th Fleet said in a news release. “By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations.” In a separate statement, the Ministry of National Defense said that it monitored nearby waters and airspace as the aircraft
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source