The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus yesterday threatened to push a bill to make the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) dispose of its improperly acquired assets if KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
"Since the bill is not listed as one of our priority bills for the next legislative session, we will first give Chairman Ma some time to take care of the matter," DPP caucus whip William Lai (
When asked what he meant by "some time," Lai said that the party will wait until October or November to see whether Ma genuinely means what he said about taking care of the KMT's party-asset problems.
Lai made the remark in response to comments by Ma on Sunday that he is determined to clear up problems regarding the party's assets by 2008. Ma also dismissed accusations that the KMT is a "foreign regime" and said that the party should establish its own Taiwan discourse.
Lai said that instead of focusing on establishing a Taiwanese discourse, the KMT should concentrate on how to truly love the nation and put this into concrete action.
Lai also questioned the KMT's patriotism, saying former KMT chairman Lien Chan (連戰) had failed to tell friend from foe in visiting China after it passed the "Anti-Secession" Law and instructing KMT lawmakers to habitually block government bills at the legislature.
If Ma aspires to prove that his party is not a foreign regime, the KMT should unconditionally return its ill-gotten party assets to the people, Lai said.
The party should also stop cooperating with the Chinese Communist Party and boycotting the arms procurement plan, he added.
"Whether the KMT is a foreign regime or not does not depend on if it has a Taiwan discourse," he said. "I strongly suggest Chairman Ma return the party's inappropriately acquired party assets to the people rather than selling them off at low prices."
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
He refused to comment on Ma's remarks about party assets though, saying that he is not in a position to do so.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
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