Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers yesterday proposed a motion to have Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) listed as persona non grata and not be allowed to attend future legislative sessions, but it was struck down by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers.
“To preserve our legislature’s dignity and safeguard this nation’s constitutional framework ... we request that the legislature condemn Su for showing disrespect to legislators, to list him as persona non grata,” the motion read.
It was referring to an argument Su had with KMT Legislator Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) during a legislative session on Tuesday after Cheng demanded to know whether the government had plans to develop nuclear submarines.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Su did not give a direct response.
“I’m afraid you will be the first and [President] Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) will be the second to surrender to China in the event of a war,” Cheng said.
“We will not be as shameless as you people,” Su replied.
Su’s remarks prompted anger from Cheng, while the KMT caucus demanded that Su apologize for the word “shameless.”
DPP lawmakers used their legislative majority to defeat the motion in a vote.
The KMT caucus then proposed another motion.
“Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫堃) must preside over legislative sessions with impartiality when dealing with Cabinet officials’ misconduct,” it said.
It was also rejected.
Earlier, the legislative session opened with a moment’s silence for the victims of a fire at a building in Kaohsiung on Thursday.
The KMT caucus then proposed a recess as its lawmakers shouted: “Recess right now. Save Kaohsiung.”
KMT lawmakers said that they wanted Su to head the relief efforts in Kaohsiung and “we do not need to tie up Su in the legislature.”
Su was due to present a policy report, but KMT lawmakers obstructed him and used delaying tactics to prevent the premier from delivering his report.
The DPP caucus proposed a motion to expedite the day’s session by not allowing legislators to question issues related to legislative procedures, the agenda and questions about the legislature’s authorized powers.
When the motion was passed, KMT lawmakers vociferously protested, banging their fists and metal containers on their desks.
A group of KMT legislators rushed to surround You, with DPP lawmakers countering the move to protect You and prevent any physical altercation.
With the legislative chamber degenerating into disarray and the floor occupied by KMT lawmakers holding placards, You called a break until next week.
The KMT was trying to force a recess so the scheduled agenda for next week could not proceed, including deliberations on the government’s budget for next year, “so that is why our party had to oppose the KMT’s motions,” DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said.
‘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 High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
A wild live dugong was found in Taiwan for the first time in 88 years, after it was accidentally caught by a fisher’s net on Tuesday in Yilan County’s Fenniaolin (粉鳥林). This is the first sighting of the species in Taiwan since 1937, having already been considered “extinct” in the country and considered as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A fisher surnamed Chen (陳) went to Fenniaolin to collect the fish in his netting, but instead caught a 3m long, 500kg dugong. The fisher released the animal back into the wild, not realizing it was an endangered species at
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and
RSS