The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus is to propose a referendum on implementing military trials and martial law, after President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday announced plans to reinstate the system, people familiar with the matter said today.
Sources said that the KMT caucus plans to propose a referendum on the question: “Regarding President Lai declaring China as a ‘foreign hostile force’ and cross-strait affairs entering a quasi-war state, do you agree that Taiwan should follow Ukraine in implementing martial law and reinstating military trials?”
The KMT said that Lai aimed to stoke internal confrontation rather than safeguard national security, accusing the president of becoming more like a dictator.
Photo: Taipei Times
Lai is restricting people’s rights in the name of national security, risking a rise in cross-strait tensions, the KMT said.
Doubting whether reinstating military trials would solve human rights issues in the military, KMT caucus deputy secretary-general Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) yesterday asked whether Lai proposed restoring the system because he thinks the military has no sense of mission or honor.
Wang also asked if Taiwan is going to war, as the military trial system was abolished as it was considered unnecessary during peacetime.
KMT Legislator Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔) questioned whether Lai proposed such an important bill to help with the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) mass recall campaign against KMT lawmakers.
Lai might have learned from suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 last year, KMT Legislator Hsu Yu-chen (許宇甄) said, adding that Lai should not take the wrong path and should listen to the people.
In April last year, KMT legislators made a similar proposal to Lai’s announcement when they submitted amendments to Article 34 of the Military Trial Act (軍事審判法) that would allow crimes to be tried by military courts instead of the Code of Criminal Procedure (刑事訴訟法).
Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) today called for the DPP to present a bill if it wants to promote military reform.
There was no discussion, not even a bill, with the defense minister disappearing from public view, Huang said, adding that the public has no idea regarding the problems that Lai’s proposal is trying to solve and what the solutions could be.
Freedom, rule of law and civil rights are Taiwan’s most precious assets, Huang said.
The reason Taiwanese refuse to be ruled by the Chinese Communist Party is because they want to preserve Taiwan’s freedom, democracy, human rights and rule of law, he said.
The DPP should be scrutinized as to whether its actions are in line with the founding principles of the nation, he added.
Additional reporting by Lin Che-yuan
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
Carrefour Taiwan is to begin using a new name from the start of July, but it cannot divulge the name until then, the chairman of the supermarket chain's parent company said today. President Chain Store Co chairman Lo Chih-hsien (羅智先) was asked by reporters after a shareholders' meeting to confirm whether the company has settled on a new name for the supermarket brand. In March, the government-registered name of two Carrefour Taiwan branches was quietly changed to "Le Chia Kang" (樂家康) in Chinese, raising speculation that has been selected as the name. Lo said that because of local regulations and contractual obligations, the
The Philippines would likely be involved in any conflict over Taiwan due to its proximity to the democracy claimed by China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said, reiterating a stance that risks angering Beijing. “In the Philippines, we do not have a choice because Taiwan is so close to the Philippines and we have almost 200,000 Filipino nationals living and working in Taiwan,” Marcos said in an interview with Japanese media in Manila on Monday. The Philippine leader’s comments come ahead of a state visit to Japan next week, where he is to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss security
RSS