Armed with charts and graphs, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) told reporters yesterday why he thought the DPP government under his leadership was doing a better job than its KMT predecessor.
The premier's speech came in response to criticism from KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
Chang yesterday said that the DPP government was far more efficient than the previous KMT administration.
"The rate of policy implementation is 98 percent," Chang argued. "And we have achieved many reforms, some of which the KMT government was unable to accomplish."
The premier also sought to draw differences between the DPP and KMT governments. The DPP-led Cabinet has attempted to balance development of northern and southern Taiwan, while the KMT ignored the south, Chang said.
In addition, Chang pointed to a number of international surveys that show Taiwan can hold its own globally.
"Though our country is suffering from an economic depression, many well-known foreign economic surveys still give high marks to Taiwan's competitiveness," he said.
Chang noted that the The World Competitiveness Yearbook, compiled by the International Institute for Management Development, ranks Taiwan eighth in terms of global competitiveness, ahead of Japan, South Korea and China.
Another report from the World Economic Forum ranked Taiwan as seventh worldwide for competitiveness, up from 11th last year.
"Why are there always so many doomsayers in Taiwan?" Chang said, pointing to tables that listed the Cabinet's achievements.
Chang's defense of his job performance comes as many in Taiwan's political circles speculate on who might lead the Cabinet should a coalition government be formed after Saturday's elections.
Last week, President Chen Shui-bian (
In addition, DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (
Following Chen and Hsieh's remarks, Lien at campaign rallies questioned whether Chang would be replaced and suggested that the president was cheating the public by holding out the promise of a coalition government.
Chen and Hsieh yesterday said they approved highly of Chang and his team.
"I back Premier Chang and his Cabinet 100 percent," Chen said.
"Chang and his team are doing a great job, such as the crackdown on `black gold,' financial reforms, preparatory work for WTO entry and post-921 quake relief, so I still firmly support him."
In addition, Hsieh went on the counter-attack against Lien, saying both party chairmen should step down should their parties fail to win a set number of seats in Saturday's poll.
"Lien has focused on the issue of `political responsibility' by attacking Premier Chang," Hsieh said. "I agree with Mr. Lien's ideal and suggest to him shouldering the `political responsibility' as chairman" if the KMT fails to reach its goal in the elections.
Hsieh said that Lien should take political responsibility for his own actions before demanding others do so.
"If the DPP wins fewer seats in the election than it now holds, I absolutely will resign," Hsieh said.
"And I even dare to announce that if the DPP fails to win more than 80 seats in the legislature or loses a single seat in the county commissioner and mayoral races, I will consider quitting."
Taiwan is projected to lose a working-age population of about 6.67 million people in two waves of retirement in the coming years, as the nation confronts accelerating demographic decline and a shortage of younger workers to take their place, the Ministry of the Interior said. Taiwan experienced its largest baby boom between 1958 and 1966, when the population grew by 3.78 million, followed by a second surge of 2.89 million between 1976 and 1982, ministry data showed. In 2023, the first of those baby boom generations — those born in the late 1950s and early 1960s — began to enter retirement, triggering
ECONOMIC BOOST: Should the more than 23 million people eligible for the NT$10,000 handouts spend them the same way as in 2023, GDP could rise 0.5 percent, an official said Universal cash handouts of NT$10,000 (US$330) are to be disbursed late next month at the earliest — including to permanent residents and foreign residents married to Taiwanese — pending legislative approval, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. The Executive Yuan yesterday approved the Special Act for Strengthening Economic, Social and National Security Resilience in Response to International Circumstances (因應國際情勢強化經濟社會及民生國安韌性特別條例). The NT$550 billion special budget includes NT$236 billion for the cash handouts, plus an additional NT$20 billion set aside as reserve funds, expected to be used to support industries. Handouts might begin one month after the bill is promulgated and would be completed within
The National Development Council (NDC) yesterday unveiled details of new regulations that ease restrictions on foreigners working or living in Taiwan, as part of a bid to attract skilled workers from abroad. The regulations, which could go into effect in the first quarter of next year, stem from amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) passed by lawmakers on Aug. 29. Students categorized as “overseas compatriots” would be allowed to stay and work in Taiwan in the two years after their graduation without obtaining additional permits, doing away with the evaluation process that is currently required,
IMPORTANT BACKER: China seeks to expel US influence from the Indo-Pacific region and supplant Washington as the global leader, MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng said China is preparing for war to seize Taiwan, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said in Washington on Friday, warning that Taiwan’s fall would trigger a regional “domino effect” endangering US security. In a speech titled “Maintaining the Peaceful and Stable Status Quo Across the Taiwan Strait is in Line with the Shared Interests of Taiwan and the United States,” Chiu said Taiwan’s strategic importance is “closely tied” to US interests. Geopolitically, Taiwan sits in a “core position” in the first island chain — an arc stretching from Japan, through Taiwan and the Philippines, to Borneo, which is shared by
RSS