Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday dismissed speculation that he can't control the party's legislative caucus, saying that he did not intend to lead like a dictator.
The KMT caucus on Tuesday decided to oppose President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) nomination of Hsieh Wen-ding (謝文定) to be state public prosecutor-general, dooming his appointment. Ma later expressed surprise at the caucus' decision to oppose the nomination rather than to hold an open vote on the issue.
Yesterday he rejected questions that cast doubt upon his leadership capabilities because he could not stop the caucus from opposing the nomination.
"The KMT caucus made a decision, but [some people] blamed the chairman for not giving orders. [Controlling the caucus] is a path toward dictatorship, and I will never walk that path," Ma said.
He urged the government not to shift the blame for the failure of Hsieh's nomination onto the KMT.
"The KMT can't decide everything. We hope that different voices can be heard in the caucus during the decision-making process," he said.
While stressing his unwillingness to issue orders to the caucus, Ma called on the caucus to make decisions with a measure of responsibility, taking into account public opinion and using reason.
KMT legislators Wu Yu-sheng (吳育昇) and Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順) denied the caucus had "kidnapped" Ma by making a decision behind his back.
"Most of the legislators opposed the nomination of Hsieh during the caucus meeting, that's why the caucus made its decision," Wu said yesterday morning before attending the KMT's Central Standing Committee meeting.
Wu said the party had failed to give legislators more chances to express their opinions before the caucus meeting. He said the party leadership should communicate better with legislators to prevent similar incidents.
Huang did not agree that vote had been the result of miscommunication between the party and the caucus, but acknowledged that the caucus meeting had been held in a hurry.
But other KMT lawmakers feel that Ma had been "kidnapped" by those with hardline positions on political confrontation.
"Some people who recently joined the KMT from the People First Party [PFP] and the New Party have hijacked Ma. They oppose everything for the sake of opposition," Legislator Hsu Chung-hsiung (
Hsu said he would appeal to fellow lawmakers who can mediate to form a caucus sub-group to deal with their more hardline colleagues.
Hsu said hawkish legislators are using Ma to further their own interests, which would damage the party's image.
Another KMT lawmaker, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he thought Ma was aware of the caucus' decision ahead of the vote.
Huang said she was very disappointed with the caucus' decision on the veto.
Meanwhile, as the KMT Central Standing Committee was taking place, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators Tsai Chi-fang (
"We are afraid that Grandpa Lien will forget about the Republic of China [ROC] when he goes to China, and so we are asking him to take the national flags there and echo Ma's 1992 consensus," Tsai said in front of KMT headquarters.
Lien is leading a delegation of KMT lawmakers, academics and business executives to a two-day economic forum with the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing tomorrow. He is scheduled to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao (
The three DPP legislators urged Lien to clarify the so-called "1992 consensus" that both sides of the Taiwan Strait can interpret the meaning of "one China" separately, and stressed the existence of the ROC.
Additional reporting by Shih Hsiu-chuan
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
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
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
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,
RSS