The sole remaining pan-blue camp member in the Cabinet, Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) Administrator Hau Lung-bin (
Hau has been fortunate enough to enjoy VIP treatment from both the pan-green and pan-blue camps. This is evident by the fact that the EPA was the only Cabinet-level government body to have its budgets approved without a cut from pan-blue members in the Legislative Yuan. On the other hand, Hau himself has also expressed his gratitude toward Premier Yu Shyi-kun for supporting his policies, including the provision of a NT$100 million reserve fund to help out members of the plastic-ware industry hit by the ban on plastic bags and utensils.
This is not to say that Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is not somewhat at loss about what to do with Hau. His presence in the Cabinet has had immense symbolic value after the departure of former premier Tang Fei (
Hau's role in the Cabinet, however, became somewhat awkward as the countdown for next year's presidential election began. He is the former chief convener of New Party, who recruited Li Ao (
While Hau was successful in efforts to steer clear of political issues during his term as the EPA head, that has become increasingly difficult as Chen's campaign themes shift toward such issues as a new constitution and national referendums -- taboo subjects for pan-blue members.
Regardless of whether it was Hau's insistence that environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for projects that have already been approved should be exempt from being subject to the proposed referendum law, a view at odds with those of Yu, was really the reason for his resignation, it is the least damaging reason for both him and the DPP.
It cannot have been comfortable for him to be just about the only Cabinet member not supporting Chen's re-election bid. Whether he would have been reappointed were Chen to win a second term is unclear. Whether KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
As for the question of EIAs and referendums, it is wrong to think of this as an "either or" situation. While in the true spirit of democracy, the people ultimately should get to call the shots, their decision can only be made based on professional assessments of the all the ups and downs.
There is much evidence that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is sending soldiers from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and is learning lessons for a future war against Taiwan. Until now, the CCP has claimed that they have not sent PLA personnel to support Russian aggression. On 18 April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelinskiy announced that the CCP is supplying war supplies such as gunpowder, artillery, and weapons subcomponents to Russia. When Zelinskiy announced on 9 April that the Ukrainian Army had captured two Chinese nationals fighting with Russians on the front line with details
On a quiet lane in Taipei’s central Daan District (大安), an otherwise unremarkable high-rise is marked by a police guard and a tawdry A4 printout from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicating an “embassy area.” Keen observers would see the emblem of the Holy See, one of Taiwan’s 12 so-called “diplomatic allies.” Unlike Taipei’s other embassies and quasi-consulates, no national flag flies there, nor is there a plaque indicating what country’s embassy this is. Visitors hoping to sign a condolence book for the late Pope Francis would instead have to visit the Italian Trade Office, adjacent to Taipei 101. The death of
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
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), joined by the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), held a protest on Saturday on Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei. They were essentially standing for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which is anxious about the mass recall campaign against KMT legislators. President William Lai (賴清德) said that if the opposition parties truly wanted to fight dictatorship, they should do so in Tiananmen Square — and at the very least, refrain from groveling to Chinese officials during their visits to China, alluding to meetings between KMT members and Chinese authorities. Now that China has been defined as a foreign hostile force,
RSS