DPP gets way on `state of the nation' speech

The legislature agreed yesterday to postpone offering President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) an invitation to give a state-of-the-nation speech pending the enactment of measures outlining the conditions of such a speech.

Responding to full-mobilization orders of respective caucuses, 202 of the 225 lawmakers from across party lines attended a meeting on the issue.

"The caucuses have agreed to accept the DPP suggestion in dealing with the motion to invite the president to address the legislature," Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said after emerging from a cross-party talk.

Fearing that opposition legislators would use the occasion to humiliate Chen, the ruling caucus proposed putting off the invitation until after rules about how the speech may be carried out are set.

"The president would be more than happy to make known his stands on key policy issues," DPP legislative whip Wang Tuoh (王拓) said later. "But it is better for him to deliver the address when the time is right."

In return, the ruling camp gave its go-ahead to opposition bills to set up anew an investigative panel to probe the Lafayette frigate affair and review rules governing funds for the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant.

Though the Control Yuan recently wrapped up its probe, PFP lawmaker Lee Ching-hua (李慶華) said that truth has not yet been uncovered and insisted on continuing his own investigation. He would not be able to get related agencies to cooperate without authorization from the legislature, Lee said.

Still, Wang commended all caucuses for the willingness to replace confrontation with negotiation.

"The development today shows that various political parties can resolve their differences through rational discussion," he told reporters.

But Wang added that he wished the TSU would use more caution when introducing controversial bills.

Following the removal of the full-mobilization order, the lawmaking body quickly adopted a number of legal reforms.

It passed three amendments to the Statute Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and Mainland Area, under which Chinese may, upon approval, invest in real estate here.

The revision, intended to encourage Chinese investment in Taiwan, is yet another effort by the government to implement the recommendations of the Economic Development Advisory Conference of last August.

Later in the day, the Interior Ministry issued a statement saying related agencies would speed up the development of related regulations within one month.

Another amendment stipulates that Taiwanese investors who set up businesses in China from a third location may be freed from double taxation when wiring their profits home.

To keep closer tabs on cross-strait trade, the third revision provides local investors already in China six months to seek retroactive permission.

Over the years, hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese businessmen are believed to have invested in China from a third location, such as Hong Kong.

While laying out its terms for allowing chipmakers to move used fab facilities across the Strait, the Cabinet has vowed to tighten penalties for violators in line with the policy of "active opening, effective management."