President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday announced that he is willing to give a special report on major national affairs to the Legislative Yuan in his office as President. He said he would mention issues like the arms procurement plans, Taiwan's efforts to participate in the UN and cross-strait affairs, expecting to settle political conflicts through rational communication.
Chen made the announcement in his opening speech for the special national congress of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) at the Grand Hotel yesterday.
In a rally later yesterday, celebrating the 18th anniversary of the DPP's founding, Chen said he would accept questions from lawmakers while making the report.
"I am not afraid of debating [with lawmakers] or answering questions. The Constitution clearly states that only the premier must take questions in the Legislative Yuan. Yet I am willing to take questions and debate with any challenger," Chen told the rally.
In response to recent disputes over the government's NT$610.8 billion arms procurement plan, Chen yesterday suggested the Legislative Yuan should arrange a special session as soon as possible to allow him to give a state-of-the-nation report on significant national affairs.
"In order to maintain Taiwan's democracy, freedom and economic prospects, I am willing to make a state-of-the-nation report on the arms procurement plans, Taiwan's participation in the United Nations and cross-strait affairs from my office as president, to the Legislative Yuan according to Article 4-3 in the additional articles to the Constitution," Chen said.
If Chen's suggestion is followed up on, it would be the first time in Taiwan's history that the president reports to the Legislative Yuan since the National Assembly's power was shifted to the Legislative Yuan in 2000.
In his speech, Chen reiterated that protecting Taiwan's national security is the common responsibility of all its people and it is also all people's common interest and obligation to maintain cross-strait peace. He stressed that it is impossible to win peace by disarmament, as "only by preparing against wars can we prevent wars," Chen said.
"Although democracy is the best theater missile defense (TMD), only by enhancing our self-defense ability could we effectively counter and intimidate a potential enemy assault," Chen said.
"Let's together write a new record in Taiwan history that we solve disputes through rational conversation and communication," Chen added.
DPP secretary-general Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) yesterday said that Chen's suggestion is an initiative aimed at solving the current political deadlock, as the public and the opposition parties were still unable to discuss significant policies calmly and rationally.
However, Chang said, the Law Governing Legislators' Exercise of Power (立法院職權行使法) does not regulate how and when the president should make a report to the legislature.
"Hopefully the Presidential Office and the Legislative Yuan could negotiate the terms of this issue as soon as possible and design a way forward in accordance with our constitutional system."
Presidential Office Secretary-General Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said that the Presidential Office will issue an official document as soon as possible to ask the Legislative Yuan to dispose of related arrangements for the president's special report.
When asked whether Chen's state-of-the-nation report will be presented in the format of a question-and-answer session in the Legislative Yuan, Su said that the president would not accept questions from legislators.
"This is the ABC of the Constitution. We all know the state-of-the-nation report is different from the legislative question-and-answer sessions," Su said.
At last night's rally, Chen said the purpose of the planned arms procurement was not to wage a war with China, but to be able to deter China from attacking.
"We are not buying weapons to wage a war, but to protect ourselves from being attacked. With the advanced weaponry, if China invaded, we could resist for a while and wait for the Americans' assistance," said Chen.
"If China insisted on waging a war, with the advanced weaponry we intend to buy, it would have to pay the price," Chen said.
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