Huang Chang-ling (黃長玲), assistant professor of politics at National Taiwan University: There has always been a discrepancy between the salary and status of men and women. How do we change the situation?
Lien Chan (連戰): In order to promote the participation of women in politics, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has set forth that one-third of party nominations for positions within the party go to women. Also, at least 30 percent of legislative nominations will go to women.
We should give subsidies to those who have dropped out of school, provide education for foreign brides and stress the entrepreneurial efforts of women.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁): We know that given 10 years, the previous government was unable to pass the Equal Protection Employment Act (兩性工作平等法) that the Chen administration finally enacted.
Also, a quarter of the DPP's nominees for election are reserved for women.
However, the main question is, if Lien is truly serious about boosting female participation in politics, then why did he fail to choose a female vice presidential candidate in the past two elections?
Sun Ta-chuan (
Chen: We've worked to ensure the employment and educational rights of Aborigines. Aboriginal Affairs Council Chairman Chen Chien-nien (
Also, the "nation within a nation" relationship between the Taiwanese government and the aboriginal people should be guaranteed in our new constitution.
Lien: We should pass legislation for autonomous areas. In addition, there should be service centers within the Aboriginal Affairs Council.
Chang Wu-yen (
Lien: After being elected, I plan to invite all the political parties to participate in a conference on national development to strike a consensus on national policy.
I hold that if there were to be one China, it would be the Republic of China. In fact, between 1988 and 1995, we held at least 30 negotiations and two Koo-Wang talks with this political outlook, achieving concrete results with no loss to the economy or society.
Chen: Lien has stated the need to put aside sovereignty because of the controversy surrounding Taiwan's sovereignty. However, this controversy does not exist in Taiwan. If Lien is true to his word, then why has he proposed a "confederation" system (
Cheng Tuan-yao (鄭端耀), research fellow at the Institute of International Relations at National Chengchi University: Mr. Chen, if elected will you uphold that an anti-missiles program is the only defense against China?
Chen: An effective offense has long been our strategy, but we also need to have an effective defense. We don't want to get into an arms race with China, but boosting our defensive capabilities is necessary. We must also enhance our defense on other fronts, including our navy and anti-submarine operations.
In 2001, we made breakthrough decisions during arms purchase negotiations with the US administration. We are pleased with improvements toward a quasi-military alliance.
Lien: Chen's answer was contradictory. He stresses self-defense but is actually calling for offshore full-scale engagement. The KMT proposes to bring about peace by winning the first military engagement. There would be time to negotiate after the first strike is won.
Chen Tain-jy (陳添枝), president of the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (中經院): Mr. Lien, you proposed that you would boost Taiwan's economic growth rate. Describe Taiwan's economic development in the next 10 years. Also, what is your outlook on economic competition between Taiwan and China?
Lien: In the future, our manufacturing industry needs to go from "Made in Taiwan" to "Value added in Taiwan." Making Taiwan the door to the Asia-Pacific logistic hub and transforming Taiwan into an international financial management center are crucial.
Taiwan's service industry should also be further developed. We should also give support to small businesses as well as traditional, agricultural, and high-technology industries.
Chen: Taiwan is not China's servant. We need to move away from Original Equipment Manufacturing towards an entrepreneurial, value-added operations center.
I disagree with Lien's proposal that management be centered in Taiwan and manufacturing in China. What about the rights of the 6 million laborers in Taiwan?
Chang: How are you going to keep the "five noes" policy you promised during your inauguration speech in 2000? Is the push for a new constitution a plan to declare Taiwan's independence? How are you going to rebuild the cross-strait relationship?
Chen: My stand on the five noes policy has never changed. The planned referendum on a new constitution in 2005 and its implementation in 2008 is an act of democratic and constitutional reform and not a timetable for independence. The referendum that is going to be held on Mar. 20 will reflect the Taiwanese people's will. We have confidence in pursuing cross-strait talks and signing peace treaties.
Lien: With Chen's proposal for referendums, a new constitution, and rectification of our country's names and a timetable, it is not clear if Chen's five-noes stance has stayed the same.
Cheng: How are you going to strengthen our diplomatic ties and improve our international relations?
Lien: The Republic of China is a sovereign country. I aim to strengthen relationships with countries that we have diplomatic ties with, as well strengthening relationships with the US and Japan.
Chen: During the KMT administration, the foreign affairs policy was focused on money, which did not always yield effective results. Furthermore, during the KMT administration, we lost eight diplomatic allies.
During the DPP administration, not only did Taiwan join the WTO, but also succeeded in having EU representatives in Taiwan.
Chen Tain-jy: Mr. Chen, how are you going to improve the low unemployment rate?
Chen: The NT$20 billion Public Service Employment Project will provide short-term financial relief to those who are out of work. We hope by this April the bill for the 10 Major Infrastructure Projects (
Lien: In order to solve the unemployment problem, utilizing the said project is not the solution -- improving the economy is.
We propose the investment of NT$100 billion on public infrastructure, which will create 40,000 jobs a year.
An increase in Taiwanese boats using China-made automatic identification systems (AIS) could confuse coast guards patrolling waters off Taiwan’s southwest coast and become a loophole in the national security system, sources familiar with the matter said yesterday. Taiwan ADIZ, a Facebook page created by enthusiasts who monitor Chinese military activities in airspace and waters off Taiwan’s southwest coast, on Saturday identified what seemed to be a Chinese cargo container ship near Penghu County. The Coast Guard Administration went to the location after receiving the tip and found that it was a Taiwanese yacht, which had a Chinese AIS installed. Similar instances had also
GOOD DIPLOMACY: The KMT has maintained close contact with representative offices in Taiwan and had extended an invitation to Russia as well, the KMT said The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) would “appropriately handle” the fallout from an invitation it had extended to Russia’s representative to Taipei to attend its international banquet last month, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said yesterday. US and EU representatives in Taiwan boycotted the event, and only later agreed to attend after the KMT rescinded its invitation to the Russian representative. The KMT has maintained long-term close contact with all representative offices and embassies in Taiwan, and had extended the invitation as a practice of good diplomacy, Chu said. “Some EU countries have expressed their opinions of Russia, and the KMT respects that,” he
VIGILANCE: The military is paying close attention to actions that might damage peace and stability in the region, the deputy minister of national defense said The People’s Republic of China (PRC) might consider initiating a hack on Taiwanese networks on May 20, the day of the inauguration ceremony of president-elect William Lai (賴清德), sources familiar with cross-strait issues said. While US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s statement of the US expectation “that all sides will conduct themselves with restraint and prudence in the period ahead” would prevent military actions by China, Beijing could still try to sabotage Taiwan’s inauguration ceremony, the source said. China might gain access to the video screens outside of the Presidential Office Building and display embarrassing messages from Beijing, such as congratulating Lai
Four China Coast Guard ships briefly sailed through prohibited waters near Kinmen County, Taipei said, urging Beijing to stop actions that endanger navigation safety. The Chinese ships entered waters south of Kinmen, 5km from the Chinese city of Xiamen, at about 3:30pm on Monday, the Coast Guard Administration said in a statement later the same day. The ships “sailed out of our prohibited and restricted waters” about an hour later, the agency said, urging Beijing to immediately stop “behavior that endangers navigation safety.” Ministry of National Defense spokesman Sun Li-fang (孫立方) yesterday told reporters that Taiwan would boost support to the Coast Guard