President Chen Shui-bian's (
The Monica Lewinsky scandal entailed serious legal issues. President Bill Clinton faced at least two legal charges -- perjury and obstruction of justice. He was accused of denying under oath that he had had an extra-martial sexual relationship while testifying in a sexual harassment lawsuit against him. In addition, he was accused of talking Monica Lewinsky, the infamous White House intern with whom he had an affair, into lying under oath about their relationship. The charges, if true, entailed serious violations of the law. Therefore, the US Congress and the Special Prosecutor in charge of the case certainly had legal grounds for investigating Bill Clinton.
On the other hand, Chen's alleged extra-marital affair does not involve such legal implications. Even if the allegations against him are true, there is no legal implication unless the first lady decides to press charges against him and his mistress for adultery. In other words, until any legal action is taken by the first lady, the matter would be entirely private, personal and between the three parties themselves.
Under the circumstances, why did the legislators bring up the subject of Chen's alleged affair during a Legislative Yuan session? What purpose is served by the action? Some have speculated that these legislators had hoped that popular support for the president would decline as a result of the allegations, paving the way for the move to recall the president. If that is the case, we are truly disappointed with them for two reasons. First, the action is certainly below caliber by any standard. Second, they are totally lost about what matters to their constituents. Despite Bill Clinton's obvious misconduct, the American people supported him overwhelmingly, and disapproved of his impeachment, because the US was enjoying an economic boom at the time. What matters most to people in the US, and everywhere as a matter of fact, is putting bread on their table. Everything else becomes secondary in comparison. The economy is also precisely Chen's most vulnerable point. If the economy continues to worsen in Taiwan, Chen may very well be recalled for that reason alone.
Just look at what is transpiring on the floor of the Legislative Yuan these days. On Friday, a male legislator who was involved in an infamous love triangle a few years back openly called out to Chen as "someone who has traveled down the same path" that "it will all be over soon, so keep a light heart." A city councilman asked the Taipei mayor to sign a certificate declaring the mayor's love for his wife. A few other legislators condemned the premier for being involved in an extra-marital affair himself a few years ago.
Our legislature has turned into a circus over the remake of Monica Lewinsky scandal. When will order and dignity be restored in the Legislative Yuan? Perhaps it is time for us to reconsider the possibility of following the US by confining the immunity lawmakers enjoy to speech that is related to legislative activities.
The Chinese government on March 29 sent shock waves through the Tibetan Buddhist community by announcing the untimely death of one of its most revered spiritual figures, Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche. His sudden passing in Vietnam raised widespread suspicion and concern among his followers, who demanded an investigation. International human rights organization Human Rights Watch joined their call and urged a thorough investigation into his death, highlighting the potential involvement of the Chinese government. At just 56 years old, Rinpoche was influential not only as a spiritual leader, but also for his steadfast efforts to preserve and promote Tibetan identity and cultural
Former minister of culture Lung Ying-tai (龍應台) has long wielded influence through the power of words. Her articles once served as a moral compass for a society in transition. However, as her April 1 guest article in the New York Times, “The Clock Is Ticking for Taiwan,” makes all too clear, even celebrated prose can mislead when romanticism clouds political judgement. Lung crafts a narrative that is less an analysis of Taiwan’s geopolitical reality than an exercise in wistful nostalgia. As political scientists and international relations academics, we believe it is crucial to correct the misconceptions embedded in her article,
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), the leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), caused a national outrage and drew diplomatic condemnation on Tuesday after he arrived at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office dressed in a Nazi uniform. Sung performed a Nazi salute and carried a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf as he arrived to be questioned over allegations of signature forgery in the recall petition. The KMT’s response to the incident has shown a striking lack of contrition and decency. Rather than apologizing and distancing itself from Sung’s actions,
US President Trump weighed into the state of America’s semiconductor manufacturing when he declared, “They [Taiwan] stole it from us. They took it from us, and I don’t blame them. I give them credit.” At a prior White House event President Trump hosted TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家), head of the world’s largest and most advanced chip manufacturer, to announce a commitment to invest US$100 billion in America. The president then shifted his previously critical rhetoric on Taiwan and put off tariffs on its chips. Now we learn that the Trump Administration is conducting a “trade investigation” on semiconductors which
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