Despite its tiny size, the TSU legislative caucus has adopted a formidable agenda for the new session that is due to open on Tuesday. It has vowed to push for technology protection and referendum rules, among other controversial items that sit atop its priority list.
Both bills stand slim chance of being passed, as KMT and PFP lawmakers are bound to obstruct their advancement and the DPP has made preserving harmony its top goal in the run-up to next year's presidential polls.
In two previous sessions, the TSU caucus made 29 attempts to place the referendum bill on the legislative calendar, but to no avail.
The proposal would allow the people to have the final say, through a democratic process, on all policy issues -- including planned changes to the nation's status, symbols and constitution. Under the plan, only government budgets, taxes and salaries for public servants would not be voted on.
TSU Legislator Lo Chih-ming (
According to Lo, a separate referendum bill sponsored by DPP Legislator Trong Chai (
But at the request of President Chen Shui-bian (
The TSU has expressed disappointment at its DPP allies recently over various issues such as the Cabinet's plans to allow domestic chipmakers to move across the Strait. It also frowns on the government's media reform plans, saying they would allow pro-unification media greater control of the market.
Chen has asked all DPP officials to dispose of their stakes in any media organizations in keeping with the party's effort to free the media from political influence.
Lo said he found the move poorly thought-out, as publications with Chinese capital have made inroads into the domestic market in recent years.
He singled out Next magazine and the incoming Apple Daily for criticism, saying they are devoted to scandalizing Taiwanese politicians and celebrities.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
RESPONSE: The government would investigate incidents of Taiwanese entertainers in China promoting CCP propaganda online in contravention of the law, the source said Taiwanese entertainers living in China who are found to have contravened cross-strait regulations or collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be subject to fines, a source said on Sunday. Several Taiwanese entertainers have posted on the social media platform Sina Weibo saying that Taiwan “must be returned” to China, and sharing news articles from Chinese state media. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has asked the Ministry of Culture to investigate whether the entertainers had contravened any laws, and asked for them to be questioned upon their return to Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said. To curb repeated
Myanmar has turned down an offer of assistance from Taiwanese search-and-rescue teams after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the nation on Friday last week, saying other international aid is sufficient, the National Fire Agency said yesterday. More than 1,700 have been killed and 3,400 injured in the quake that struck near the central Myanmar city of Mandalay early on Friday afternoon, followed minutes later by a magnitude 6.7 aftershock. Worldwide, 13 international search-and-rescue teams have been deployed, with another 13 teams mobilizing, the agency said. Taiwan’s search-and-rescue teams were on standby, but have since been told to stand down, as
RSS