President Chen Shui-bian's (
While the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) legislative caucus praised the president's decision as evidence of his wisdom, the pan-blue alliance said that the decision is nothing but populism and that it will only belittle the nation's status.
DPP caucus whip Lai Ching-teh (
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
"The caucus highly appreciates the president's decision to attend the march," Lai said. "Participating in the event but not addressing the crowd is not only sound judgment but also evidence of his political wisdom."
BULLIED
Despite opposition parties' criticism of Premier Frank Hsieh (
"In the face of China's Anti-Secession Law, every Taiwanese person, including government employees, is upset by China's bullying behavior and they have the absolute right to voice their displeasure," Wu said.
TSU caucus whip Lo Chih-ming (
"The president should take advantage of the opportunity to send a strong message to the international community that we oppose the Anti-Secession Law on behalf of the 23 million people of Taiwan," he said. "It sounds a little bit weird for the president to participate in the march but not address the crowd."
People First Party (PFP) Legislator Lee Yung-ping (
"It is a rare phenomenon for the head of state to take to the streets," she said. "It might lead the international community to think that Taiwan is part of China and that Taiwanese leaders have to stage a protest to have their voices heard."
Lee also questioned whether Chen's decision was aimed at courting pro-independence voters, some of whom have vowed to switch their support to the TSU, following a meeting between Chen and PFP Chairman James Soong (
"His decision not only tramples on the national interest, it also creates more problems," she said.
Another PFP Legislator Hwang Yih-jiau (
"If that is the case, political confrontation between the pan-blue and pan-green is expected," he said.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Chen Chieh (
"While Taiwan is an independent sovereign state, what does a Chinese law have anything to do with us, and why are our president and premier so nervous about it?" he said. "If their taking to the streets helps solve the problem, I am all for it, but I seriously doubt it."
`A JOKE'
Chen Chieh also called on the president and premier to spend more time contemplating how to better people's livelihoods and public security.
Another KMT lawmaker, Tsai Chin-lung (
"It is a joke that the premier encourages his ministers to go to a demonstration," he said. "I had originally planned to go, but now I've change my mind."
Meanwhile, a coalition of foreign residents gathered on the square inside the legislative compound and chanted slogans to voice their support for Saturday's march.
Michael Fahey, an American, said that it is not necessary at this point to do anything more dramatic than stage a demonstration.
"People have criticized this march as not having a specific goal, but I think that the most important thing is to make sure that the international community hears Taiwan's voice. I think that is the main point," he said.
Fahey last week began asking other foreign residents of Taiwan to join Saturday's march through the Web site forumosa.com.
Interested people are welcome to meet up at the side gate of National Taiwan University at 1pm tomorrow.
‘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