Leaders of the KMT and the People First Party yesterday rejected President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) proposal to form a "cross-party alliance for national stabilization" after the Dec. 1 legislative elections. They then urged the president to abide by the Constitution in the formation of a new Cabinet.
KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) dismissed the Chen-proposed alliance as redundant and unnecessary.
"As long as everybody respects the constitutional system, the spirit of negotiation and the majority in the legislature, I'm sure we can form an efficient, functional government," Lien told reporters during a stopover in Kaohsiung before a campaign trip to Pingtung County. "It is unnecessary to bring about extra complications."
Lien said that since nobody has a clue as to what the alliance really means, it would be quite impossible for the KMT to join it.
He said the proposal was just another smokescreen by Chen to deflect public attention away from punishing the DPP over the severity of the economic situation.
"With only nine days left before the polls, [Chen] is playing a trick a day and just won't talk about the economy," Lien said.
At a campaign rally in Pingtung County, Lien urged the DPP to get "to the core of the problem," citing a Bible story in which Jesus asked one of his disciples to fish in the middle of the lake, instead of staying at the bank.
"We hope the government will go to the deep end of the lake and find an answer to the nation's ills," Lien said.
PFP Chairman James Soong (
Soong reasoned that Chen's proposal was a clear indication that the president would never surrender the right to form a Cabinet.
Soong also highlighted what he saw as an attempt to create splits within the opposition by picking off individual legislators to take part in the alliance, rather than dealing directly with the opposition parties.
"Would members of the alliance be political parties or individuals? This is a problem that will hamper its functioning and questions its feasibility," Soong said during a campaign trip to Ilan County. "Under these circumstances we see no prospect for a resolution to the post-election deadlock."
Soong suggested that Chen should respect the majority in the legislature and establish a mechanism for inter-party negotiations in order to achieve stability.
"Political stability will be impossible if the president isn't prepared to negotiate and share power with other parties," he said.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS