The uproar over the Lafayette scandal threatened pan-green unity yesterday as TSU lawmakers vowed to end their partnership with the DPP, whose members said that former president Lee Teng-hui (
The DPP was able to placate its tiny but pivotal ally later in the day by issuing a formal apology and pledging to restrain colleagues from making indiscreet speeches.
Meanwhile, a top aide reaffirmed President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) determination to get to the bottom of the decade-old scandal, which many say led to the murder of former navy captain Yin Ching-feng (尹清楓) in 1993.
Presidential Office Secretary-General Chiou I-jen (
Chiou added that ties between Chen and Lee are as cordial as ever.
The latest pan-green unity crisis erupted Thursday when DPP legislators Yeh Yi-jin (
Prime suspects
Saying a scandal of such a scope could not have been carried out by any single person, they named Lee and two former premiers, Lee Huan (李煥) and Hau Po-tsun (郝柏村), as prime suspects, along with former KMT secretary-general James Soong and former KMT financial director Hsu Li-teh (徐立德).
The acquisition of the warships has recaptured the spotlight after former French foreign minister Roland Dumas said in a recent interview that US$400-million in kickbacks connected to the deal went to Taiwan's ruling party at the time.
In light of the huge sums of money involved, more top-ranking government officials must have played a part in the purchase of the frigates in the early 1990s, Yeh and Chiu said.
They added that Lee, at the time president, commander of armed forces and KMT chairman, should give an account of his role in the affair.
The statements drew strong protest from TSU lawmakers, who see Lee as their spiritual leader.
Citing a Control Yuan report, TSU Legislator Lo Chih-ming (
"The DPP must issue a solemn apology to Lee and the TSU as well," Lo demanded.
Going a step further, TSU Legislator Chen Cheng-lung (
TSU threat
"If the president fails to deal with those elements in a prompt and satisfactory fashion, the TSU will not back his re-election bid in 2004. For we will have difficulty trusting in his leadership," Chen Cheng-lung said.
Seeking to mend fences, DPP legislative leaders Ker Chien-ming (
They dismissed the charges against Lee as "loose utterances" by a couple of members and stressed that the DPP has never questioned Lee's probity or his contribution to Taiwan's democratic achievements.
Ker said that all DPP lawmakers have great respect for Lee and the caucus will see to it they are cautious when making public speeches in the future.
Earlier in the day, Yeh told a separate news conference that her remarks on Thursday had nothing to do with the DPP caucus or party headquarters.
Yeh said she meant to prod justice officials to speed up the investigation so Lee's integrity may be upheld.
Chiu Chung-chin, the other "troublemaker," also released a statement saying he has always believed Lee was blameless.
The series of conciliatory gestures succeeded in averting a potential green split, as TSU legislative leader Chien Lin Whei-jun (錢林慧君) said that her party would continue working with the DPP in the pursuit of the public interest.
"We agree that all pan-green members should stay united for the sake of the common good," she said.
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) hosted a dinner in Taipei last night with key Taiwanese suppliers to celebrate the successful mass production of the company’s new Blackwell AI systems. Speaking to the media earlier yesterday, Huang thanked Nvidia’s Taiwanese partners for their contributions to the company’s ecosystem, while also sharing his plans to meet with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) founder Morris Chang (張忠謀). In response to rumors that Nvidia will launch a downgraded Hopper H20 chip for China in July, Huang dismissed the reports, saying, “That is not true.” He clarified that there
RSS