Opposition party lawmakers yesterday threatened to impeach President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen made his announcement yesterday afternoon. Minutes after the announcement, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
"He [the president] told me that he would use the words `to cease' instead of `to abolish,'" he said.
PHOTO: CNA
Wang did not say whether he would endorse his fellow pan-blue lawmakers' proposal to impeach the president.
"The president's announcement seems to be a sign that he is leading this country one step closer to independence," KMT Policy Committee director Tseng Yung-chuan (
Tseng said that he would support the proposal to impeach the president, and would also encourage his fellow KMT lawmakers to do so.
An impeachment signature drive was launched by KMT Legislator Ting Shou-chung (
An impeachment proposal would have to be approved by two-thirds of the lawmakers in the 225-seat Legislative Yuan to move past the first reading.
"Now that the idea to impeach the president has become a proposal, we will attempt to submit it to the legislature for initial review as soon as next Tuesday," Tseng said.
People First Party (PFP) caucus whip Lu Hsueh-chang (
"We need to teach him [the president] a lesson and let him know that we are not happy about this," Lu said.
Meanwhile, the whips of the legislative caucuses of the KMT, the PFP and the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union said they would demand that the premier brief the legislature on the decision-making process behind the policy.
Also, street protests might be "unavoidable" to keep Chen from scrapping the National Unification Council (NUC) and its guidelines, a PFP spokesman said.
KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
Ma said semantics was not the key issue and that "what the public is concerned about are the issues that relate to their daily lives."
At a time when the nation is plagued with so many economic problems, Ma said, the president had stoked a controversial political issue that would not benefit the public.
"The president has the wrong priorities in setting his political agenda," Ma said.
"The president's proposal to do away with the NUC has rocked Taiwan-US and cross-strait relations," he said.
"The public hopes that the president will refocus on what he should do," he said, adding that if "he insists on going down this controversial path, history will record it."
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
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