Seeking to parse apparently conflicting policies on Taiwanese independence, the ruling party yesterday reached a consensus on a controversial proposal to lift the significance of party resolutions to the level of the party platform.
At the second meeting of the DPP's 9th National Congress in Kaohsiung, after minor revisions were made during a heated debate, DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) announced the proposal's passage.
"This proposal allows room for the party to re-interpret the so-called `Taiwan Independence clause (
To inoculate itself in light of the "Taiwan independence clause," the party in 1999 passed a resolution to acknowledge "Republic of China" as the country's official name. Based on yesterday's proposal, the 1999 resolution regarding Taiwan's future should be looked upon as part of the party's platform.
The "Taiwan independence clause," nevertheless, remains in the party's platform, since no revisions were made, something that requires a three-fourths majority of votes to facilitate.
When asked what the party would do if there was a conflict between the resolution and the independence clause in the party's platform, Hsieh responded that "the latter resolution's effect supersedes the previous one," meaning that the party would acknowledge the 1999 resolution as more important than the platform's independence clause.
Also passed at yesterday's meeting was a resolution to integrate major economic conclusions reached at the Economic Development Advisory Conference into the party's yet-to-be announced election platform.
The resolution, put forward by Central Standing Committee member Lawrence Kao (
The move is meant to show that the DPP will focus on the country's economic development should it become the majority legislative party. It will now be for the DPP's legislative candidates to go out and convince the public.
Addressing all congressional representatives, President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen, therefore, encouraged all candidates at yesterday's meeting to win their races so as to consolidate the country's political development and trigger another transfer of power -- this time in the legislature.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old