KMT spokesman Wu Ching-ji (
The KMT says its policy is motivated by the need to institutionalize political accountability by parties. In other words, if non-DPP people join the Cabinet, it will be harder to hold the DPP accountable for policy problems or errors. Who are they kidding? The KMT's apparent belief that the public is too stupid to figure out who to blame if you have a president from the DPP and a DPP government but some non-DPP Cabinet members is downright insulting.
That the KMT appears to have an abundance of talented people, especially in the fields of finance and trade, is due more to Taiwan's recent history than the party's ability to cultivate great minds. During its decades-long authoritarian rule, joining the KMT was the only way to have a political career and contribute to the country. Given the party's historical inability to differentiate between itself and the nation, one might ask how much of the nurturing of party talent was provided by national, rather than party, resources? Under the circumstances, using political accountability as an excuse to keep KMT talent from joining the Cabinet is yet another sign that the party has always placed its own interests above those of the nation.
The most obvious victim of the KMT's policy is newly-elected at-large legislator Chiang Ping-kun (
Then there is the dilemma of General Tang Yao-ming (
The KMT has been relentless in its condemnation of former members who have joined the Cabinet as traitors selfishly selling out the party for their own interests. Apparently the KMT believes that its members must not only put party loyalty above all else, but that the party-member bond is equivalent to the marriage vow of "until death do us apart."
It is too bad that the KMT doesn't believe in political accountablitity -- or loyalty for that matter -- when it comes to party members who have shown themselves more than willing to toady up to Beijing in return for business or political favors. Nary a harsh word has been heard from KMT headquarters about these people "selfishly selling out the party for their own interests."
Any KMT members joining the Cabinet deserve a pat on the back for placing national interests first -- if not a rousing cheer. Whether they choose to resign their party membership or face expulsion, these people will be able to hold their heads high, confident in the knowledge that the people of Taiwan appreciate what they are doing, even if their former comrades are incapable of doing so.
The gutting of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) by US President Donald Trump’s administration poses a serious threat to the global voice of freedom, particularly for those living under authoritarian regimes such as China. The US — hailed as the model of liberal democracy — has the moral responsibility to uphold the values it champions. In undermining these institutions, the US risks diminishing its “soft power,” a pivotal pillar of its global influence. VOA Tibetan and RFA Tibetan played an enormous role in promoting the strong image of the US in and outside Tibet. On VOA Tibetan,
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
By now, most of Taiwan has heard Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) threats to initiate a vote of no confidence against the Cabinet. His rationale is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government’s investigation into alleged signature forgery in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) recall campaign constitutes “political persecution.” I sincerely hope he goes through with it. The opposition currently holds a majority in the Legislative Yuan, so the initiation of a no-confidence motion and its passage should be entirely within reach. If Chiang truly believes that the government is overreaching, abusing its power and targeting political opponents — then
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