DPP presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian (3?糮? presented a declaration yesterday on his anti black gold platform which urged the public to support his political reform project -- designed, he said, to wipe out shady connections between organized crime and the government by ending the KMT's 54 years rule.
"The 2000 presidential election will be a turning point for Taiwan's democratic development. And it is the last opportunity for people to choose between a `new and incorruptible' team and a `traditional black gold team' for Taiwan's future," Chen said.
"Black gold" politics refers to gangster involvement and corruption in the political process.
Chen claimed that the KMT's presidential candidate Lien Chan (
"The result of KMT rule has brought three serious problems -- a corrupt political climate, people's loss of confidence in the judiciary and the destruction of a fair competitive environment for economics," Chen said.
He concluded that if people choose Lien as their new president, it would only protect the current privileged stratum of political society. And to choose Soong, Chen added, would allow a new "black gold alliance" to lead Taiwan.
He also declared a series of seven measures he said would help to eliminate the problem of "black gold" politics. These would range from a US-style presidential-appointed special prosecutor, beefing up anti-gangster laws, restructuring the electoral system to reduce graft, and forbidding corporate investments by political parties.
Chen stressed that only if people give him the opportunity [to win the presidential election] will Taiwan have an opportunity for an honest and upright government.
"All other countries, which developed their democracies in the world's `third wave' of democratization, have succeeded in carrying out a shift in power from one party to another," Chen said. "Only Taiwan is still under the rule of an autocratic party."
Chen therefore urged the use of "people power" at the ballot box next March to help the DPP carry out its hope of reforming black gold politics.
"Only when people use their power to make the right choice in the presidential election can those privileges be eliminated and can the judiciary restore its reputation and dignity -- and can politics and economics develop in a healthy environment," Chen said.
MISINFORMATION: The generated content tends to adopt China’s official stance, such as ‘Taiwan is currently governed by the Chinese central government,’ the NSB said Five China-developed artificial intelligence (AI) language models exhibit cybersecurity risks and content biases, an inspection conducted by the National Security Bureau (NSB) showed. The five AI tools are: DeepSeek, Doubao (豆包), Yiyan (文心一言), Tongyi (通義千問) and Yuanbao (騰訊元寶), the bureau said, advising people to remain vigilant to protect personal data privacy and corporate business secrets. The NSB said it, in accordance with the National Intelligence Services Act (國家情報工作法), has reviewed international cybersecurity reports and intelligence, and coordinated with the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau and the National Police Agency’s Criminal Investigation Bureau to conduct an inspection of China-made AI language
BOOST IN CONFIDENCE: The sale sends a clear message of support for Taiwan and dispels rumors that US President Donald Trump ‘sold out’ the nation, an expert said The US government on Thursday announced a possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet parts, which was estimated to cost about US$330 million, in a move that an expert said “sends a clear message of support for Taiwan” amid fears that Washington might be wavering in its attitude toward Taipei. It was the first announcement of an arms sale to Taiwan since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year. The proposed package includes non-standard components, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, as well repair and return support for the F-16, C-130 and Indigenous Defense Fighter aircraft,
CHECKING BOUNDARIES: China wants to disrupt solidarity among democracies and test their red lines, but it is instead pushing nations to become more united, an expert said The US Department of State on Friday expressed deep concern over a Chinese public security agency’s investigation into Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) for “secession.” “China’s actions threaten free speech and erode norms that have underpinned the cross-strait ‘status quo’ for decades,” a US Department of State spokesperson said. The Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau late last month listed Shen as “wanted” and launched an investigation into alleged “secession-related” criminal activities, including his founding of the Kuma Academy, a civil defense organization that prepares people for an invasion by China. The spokesperson said that the US was “deeply concerned” about the bureau investigating Shen
DISPUTE: A Chinese official prompted a formal protest from Tokyo by saying that ‘the dirty head that sticks itself out must be cut off,’ after Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks Four armed China Coast Guard vessels yesterday morning sailed through disputed waters controlled by Japan, amid a diplomatic spat following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan. The four ships sailed around the Senkaku Islands — known as the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) to Taiwan, and which Taiwan and China also claim — on Saturday before entering Japanese waters yesterday and left, the Japan Coast Guard said. The China Coast Guard said in a statement that it carried out a “rights enforcement patrol” through the waters and that it was a lawful operation. As of the end of last month,
RSS