TSU lawmakers should now focus on economic issues, having already introduced a number of controversial topics in their debut legislative session, former president and TSU spiritual leader Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) told them yesterday.
"He told us he was very happy about our performance at the Legislative Yuan. Particularly, he said we have clearly expressed public opinion in the establishment of the pro-Taiwan principle," TSU lawmaker Su Ying-kwei (
The 13 TSU lawmakers have drawn enormous media attention in the legislature since they took their oaths at the start of February by raising a number of controversial topics.
First they proposed halving the number of legislative seats, then suggested requiring presidential candidates be born in Taiwan. They have also suggested making Hokkien, Hakka and Aboriginal languages the nation's official languages.
Perhaps their biggest triumph was appearing to persuade the government to reconsider their recommendations on relaxing the ban on investing in eight-inch wafer foundries in China.
Now that they had established their "Taiwan first" path, Su said, the former president was urging them to move on and come up with measures to boost the nation's sluggish economy.
Lee apparently looked healthy and in good spirits during his first public appearance since the disclosure of two secret funds set up in the National Security Bureau during his presidency.
Touching on this topic, Lee told the attending lawmakers that he was in fact "happy" about the media's disclosure because it let the public know how much he had done for the country.
"I feel no qualms about the allegations. All the funds were used to secure diplomatic ties with other countries, which was done for the sake of the country," Lee was quoted as saying.
He also described as "a big joke" allegations made by PFP lawmaker Liu Wen-hsiung (
Liu had said the money was then wired into accounts belonging to Lee's relatives.
"He said that all the facts, including the bank and the dates when the money was transferred, cited by the PFP lawmaker were inaccurate," Su said.
"He said the money in question was that of his relatives and that it has nothing to do with him."
A car bomb killed a senior Russian general in southern Moscow yesterday morning, the latest high-profile army figure to be blown up in a blast that came just hours after Russian and Ukrainian delegates held separate talks in Miami on a plan to end the war. Kyiv has not commented on the incident, but Russian investigators said they were probing whether the blast was “linked” to “Ukrainian special forces.” The attack was similar to other assassinations of generals and pro-war figures that have either been claimed, or are widely believed to have been orchestrated, by Ukraine. Russian Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, 56, head
SAFETY FIRST: Double the number of police were deployed at the Taipei Marathon, while other cities released plans to bolster public event safety Authorities across Taiwan have stepped up security measures ahead of Christmas and New Year events, following a knife and smoke bomb attack in Taipei on Friday that left four people dead and 11 injured. In a bid to prevent potential copycat incidents, police deployments have been expanded for large gatherings, transport hubs, and other crowded public spaces, according to official statements from police and city authorities. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the city has “comprehensively raised security readiness” in crowded areas, increased police deployments with armed officers, and intensified patrols during weekends and nighttime hours. For large-scale events, security checkpoints and explosives
‘POLITICAL GAME’: DPP lawmakers said the motion would not meet the legislative threshold needed, and accused the KMT and the TPP of trivializing the Constitution The Legislative Yuan yesterday approved a motion to initiate impeachment proceedings against President William Lai (賴清德), saying he had undermined Taiwan’s constitutional order and democracy. The motion was approved 61-50 by lawmakers from the main opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), who together hold a legislative majority. Under the motion, a roll call vote for impeachment would be held on May 19 next year, after various hearings are held and Lai is given the chance to defend himself. The move came after Lai on Monday last week did not promulgate an amendment passed by the legislature that
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off Yilan at 11:05pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The epicenter was located at sea, about 32.3km east of Yilan County Hall, at a depth of 72.8km, CWA data showed There were no immediate reports of damage. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Yilan County area on Taiwan’s seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. It measured 4 in other parts of eastern, northern and central Taiwan as well as Tainan, and 3 in Kaohsiung and Pingtung County, and 2 in Lienchiang and Penghu counties and 1
RSS