The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday pledged to boost efforts to oust President Chen Shui-bian (
Promoting a second recall motion in the Legislative Yuan and letting voters decide the future of the president in a referendum will be a victory for all Taiwanese, KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
"The second recall motion will not be an `exit strategy' for the anti-Chen campaign. What it should be is an `entrance strategy' for Taiwanese," Ma said during the party's central standing committee meeting yesterday.
He made the remarks following a speech by Emile Sheng (
Sheng expressed disappointment over the KMT's passive approach to joining forces with the anti-Chen protesters by demanding the president's resignation from within the system.
"[The campaign] is trying to establish core values for our society. As the largest opposition party, the KMT should not give up its advantage in the Legislative Yuan," Sheng said, adding that the party should take advantage of its majority in the legislature to oust Chen by pushing for another recall motion or toppling the Cabinet.
"What is the KMT's attitude? Why has the party done nothing since the new legislative session began?" he added.
Ma said that the KMT has never been absent from the anti-Chen movement initiated by former Democratic Progressive Party chairman Shih Ming-teh (施明德).
He added that the party would spare no effort to ensure the success of a second recall motion by pushing legislation to redraw the boundaries of election districts and amendments to the Election and Recall Law (
"The KMT caucus has also asked party members to contact pan-green legislators and seek their support. We need to act with caution," he said.
He also denied being "weak" in opposing Shih's plan to "besiege" the Presidential Office on Double Ten National Day.
"As Taipei mayor, it's my responsibility to maintain public order. ... What I'm afraid of is that violent incidents would ruin the campaign's efforts," he said.
The first recall motion launched by the KMT in June failed to pass the legislature amid a lack of support from the pan-green camp. If a recall motion passed the legislature, a national referendum would follow.
Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (
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
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The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday announced a ban on all current and former government officials from traveling to China to attend a military parade on Sept. 3, which Beijing is to hold to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War. "This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the Republic of China’s victory in the War of Resistance [Against Japan]," MAC Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) told a regular news briefing in Taipei. To prevent Beijing from using the Sept. 3 military parade and related events for "united
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