Translation: DPP needs idealistic platform

Below is an editorial published by the Liberty Times on March 21st about the DPP's ideal party platform. My own ideas have been laid out before. Honestly, I think the author's mistaken; the DPP will obviously keep a core independence vision, but this will not win new votes. Any new DPP platform must, as the DPP apparently plans to do, take a much more comprehensive look at Taiwan's political, economic, environmental and social situation.

Cao seems to seriously confuse Taiwanese support for continued de facto independence as an outright endorsement of plans such as a new constitution. This is simply not the case, and the DPP will never get elected on the TSU platform of yesteryear, which revolved around the theme of rectifying the country's name and writing a new constitution (正名制憲). I might like these ideas in theory, but they will not get you elected.

Frankly, should the leaks about the coming platform worry Cao Chang-ching be true, I'd consider it a very good step forward and a good sign of a DPP that's growing into a party again capable of governing, instead of being a party that's just good at shouting slogans about unnecessary and impossible goals that have no resonance with the wider electorate.

Either way, enjoy!

DPP needs idealistic platform

by Cao Chang-ching (曹長青)

The pan-greens are optimistic about their chances in the upcoming mayoral elections following their string of victories in legislative special elections. This has resulted in some intense jockeying within the party.

But whether we are discussing the upcoming five mayoral elections or the 2012 presidential elections, the most important thing for the pan-green movement is not to gain power, but to use power gained to promote the cause of making Taiwan a normal independent state. As the core of the pan-green movement, the DPP's upcoming party congress (to be held in August), will likely be the site of an to launch a "ten year platform," press reports say. The platform is expected to expound "a comprehensive plan for the country's future" and a "vision for the coming decade."

Since their loss last presidential election, DPP heavyweights have failed to spell out a clear plan for handling the problems related to Taiwan's future and status. In the current situation, the DPP's plan to bring forward a clear platform is a responsible move, in respect to both voters and country.

National Identity is Key

The key question is, what will be the contents of the political platform? What important rhetorical points and understanding will be applied regarding Taiwan's future? Although no one has yet seen a draft of the platform, certain points shown to the press by the DPP Policy Committee's deputy executive director are a bit worrying.

The reason they are worrying is that this platform does not make the status of Taiwan its central theme, but rather focuses on "changes in the world's situation; the interaction of Taiwan and China; globalization and economic trends & the evolution of economic and trade relations with Taiwan and China; technological development; energy prices and ideas for the reduction of carbon emissions ; water scarcity and food autonomy; climate changes' coming effects on Taiwan's fragile soil; the aging population and health care changes; and the government's financial discipline & the undermining of the social insurance system due to the possibility of bankruptcy."

Frankly speaking, a KMT political platform could include all of these same elements. It creates no clear contrast with the current Ma administration. The problems that Taiwan faces today do not just include globalization, unemployment, economic development and democratic politics, all of which are problems countries around the world face.

More unique to Taiwan is the question of its status and future as a country, a problem that revolves around three issues. The first is Taiwan's relationship with the Chinese Communist Party.On this we should be very clear: Taiwan has never been a part of the PRC, and Taiwan is a sovereign independent state. We should make all efforts to resist China's attempts to promote unification, or any attempt at annexing Taiwan.

The second issue is Taiwan's relationship with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). We must resolutely resist the KMT's "two sides of the strait, one China" policy or any other actions which aim to sell Taiwan.

The third issue is the relationship between Taiwan's future and its people. The DPP ought to make a clear promise that should the party return to power, they would be promoting the normalization of Taiwan as a country, including the efforts to write a new constitution (excluding archaic language related to territory, and clearly stating the limiting of that territory to Taiwan, Penghu, Jinmen and Matsu); the adopting of a new national anthem (we must ditch references to the three people's principles and
loyalty to the KMT); and the adaptation of a better national referendum law. We must cast aside the "Republic of China" hat that the KMT forced on Taiwan through violent means, and recognize reality. We must apply to join the United Nations under the name of Taiwan. And so on.

The DPP must respect public opinion

Some people will ask: while the KMT remains so strong, can these goals be realized? Do these goals lack realism or practical value? Regardless of how these questions are answered, the starting point ought to be that platform ought to place highest priority on the will of the people, regardless of how idealistic it is, if the party hopes to make strides. These objectives are not castles in the sky, but concrete goals that increasing numbers of Taiwan people strongly desire. Whether under the Chen Shui-bian administration or the Ma Ying-jeou administration, a variety of polls reflect these trends:

A TVBS Poll conducted 30 days after President Ma Ying-jeou took office showed 65% of people support Taiwanese independence, while only 19% were in favor of unification. Sixty-eight precent considered themselves Taiwanese, and only 4% would call themselves Chinese people.

One year after Ma Ying-jeou took office, a Global Visons poll revealed 49% of people supported "eventual independence" while a mere 16% supported "eventual unification," and a solid 69% opposed eventual unification. In July last year, the same magazine's poll showed 82% support for each side of the Taiwan strait now being a separate, sovereign state.

Early last year, a poll by the monthly magazine "Wealth" showed two thirds of the Taiwan people are unwilling to make concessions on sovereignty to China for political or economic benefits; 59% of people worry that Taiwan's economy is too dependent on China, and 55% of people think China is Taiwans' largest enemy militarily.

These polls were not conducted by pan-green media, so their results may be taken to reflect reality and not a pro-DPP political point of view. Today, the question is not whether the DPP ought to present an idealistic platform before the people; rather, the question is whether the party will follow public opinion, subject itself to public opinion, and be in accordance with the wishes of the people on the way forward.

Why Chen Ming-wen won [omitted]

TDMH/CKSMH name change?

Taipei Times' Flora Wang reports:

The Ministry of Education kept a low profile yesterday after a media report said it was planning to change the name of the Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall back to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

Chu Nan-hsien (朱楠賢), the director-general of the Department of Social Education, which supervises the hall, said that before the ministry makes budget requests for the next fiscal year, it would only address regulations related to the hall.

Chu was referring to the Organic Statute of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (中正紀念堂組織條例), which the former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government had sought to abolish before changing the hall’s name to Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall on May 19 last year.

However, the legislature did not approve the then-Cabinet’s proposal to abolish the statute. It also blocked another organic statute of the democracy hall proposed by the Cabinet.

Asked if the ministry would remove every plaque in the hall that bore the title “Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall,” Chu said the ministry was still deliberating the matter.

KMT legislator: TDMH -- > CKS Memorial

KMT legislator Chiang Yi-hsiung (江義雄) said today there is hope that the legislature will "rectify" the name of Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall back to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall next legislative session. The argument goes like this: the last Executive did not get Legislative approval for the name change, so next legislative session the KMT can make an official strike down of that name change.

What a very sad misappropriation of the word for name rectification (正名).

Postal service to be renamed again

The Taiwan Post, soon to be renamed the Chunghwa Post, will be the first state run enterprise renamed since Ma has taken office.

Hsieh: New constitution, name in 5 years | KMT: BS

Hsieh said in an interview last night on Talking Show at Taipei main station today that his goal if elected would be to complete a new constitution and altering the nation's name (presumably to Taiwan) within a five year period if elected. Since Taiwan is already a sovereign and independent country (a position Maddog notes that 88% of Taiwanese support), Hsieh said this would in now way alter the status quo.

Hsieh has recently promised the US there would be no independence referendum, arguing that since Taiwan is independent the only referendum needed would before unification.

Hsieh argued 5 years would be needed because it would probably take another legislative election where the DPP could get 3/4 of the seats in the legislature to pass a new constitution (like that's gonna happen).

The KMT called the campaign promise a lie meant to garner votes, and pointed out that Hsieh wouldn't promise to make the changes within four years (the KMT states Hsieh would violate his "no independence" promise to the US if he pushed for it to happen within four years).

Meanwhile, China has reported the development with surprising speed, though they state "Hsieh did not clearly explain how a new constitution and name would not change the status quo." So far, no comments have successfully been posted in that article's discussion section.

謝長廷：未改變獨立現狀 (CNA@UDN)
五年正名制憲？國民黨：謝長廷騙選票手法 (CNA@Yam)
谢首度抛出"正名制宪"时间表 称当选后5年完成 (People's Daily)

--------------------------

I personally think this sounds like a way for Hsieh to support a name change and a new constitution without having to push it because it's not a real practical possibility in the short term. The KMT might be right on that level.

Budget, Chen, Chen Chu, and Ma

For some reason, the budget news has been utterly eclipsed and I can't find *anything* on if the legislature actually passed it today or not.

The High Court has made a decision that should affect Chen Shui-bian's wife's case: the decision is that the President does not have to disclose secrets on how he spent the money since he does have a right to do so secretly. The exact impact of this decision is not something I know enough to talk about, but it obviously works in Wu's favor. Predictably, the blues whined about the terrible state of justice in this case while greens affirmed it. The presidential office just said they "respect" the decision and are moved.

A lower court also declared Chen Chu's victory in the Kaohsiung mayoral race to be invalid, and at this time it appears there will be a new election. The reason given was that a false rumor of her opponent vote buying was spread before the election. Also predictibly, and almost hilariously because of the contrast with President Chen's case, the greens whined about the terrible decision while the blues praised the decision.

Ma Ying-jeou secretly met with the Singapore leader Lee Kuan Yew (李光耀), and then seemed quite surprised the Singapore government confirmed it. Ma was surprised, since he had tried to duck the question. Hsieh had a classy response, saying the meeting was a good thing but he wishes that Ma would speak up more for Taiwan.

Expect front pages tomorrow stuffed with Taiwan news instead of the normal mix of Taiwan-international news.

Also, Beijing is slamming the DPP referendum on entering the UN with the name of "Taiwan" as successionist while staying perfectly quiet on what amounts to the same referendum being pushed by the KMT to join under the name of "Republic of China" (while recognizing the PRC). My personal feeling and hope is that the DPP will support both referendums, thus increasing the chance of both of their success and demonstrating that the Taiwanese don't care so much about the name Taiwan vs. ROC, but are very interested in joining the UN.

Aboriginal names now easier to restore

In order to make it more convenient for aboriginal Taiwanese to restore their traditional name, the government will take applications from any Household Registration Office.

In the past, aboriginal people were forced to use a Chinese name on their national ID cards, passports and all other documents as part of the KMT campaign to assimilate the natives.

So far, 6,613 out of 470,000 aboriginies have restored traditional names.

Someone restoring a traditional name has three choices; to use Chinese characters to give a phonetic approximation of their name, to use romanization, or to have both a standard Chinese name in characters with an aboriginal name in romanization.

Chiu Yi guilty, No arms for CEC, independent Wang? and more

Chiu Yi (邱毅) has lost his last appeal and has been sentenced for his role in an illegal demonstration in 2004. He has a 14 month sentence. The article says he is now facing the prison sentence and cannot run in the year end election. Horray! He also held a press conference to say A-bian had intervened to make sure he went to jail. DPP legislators have called for his right to leave the country to be restricted if there's any hint he's going to flee.

The KMT and DPP were both kicking around the idea of trading the arms bill for the CEC law. The KMT said they had to respect the PFP and hoped to talk to them more about it; the DPP said they liked the plan, but it was going to come down to the PFP's stance; and the PFP said forget it. For now, there's no chance it'll pass.

The KMT has a lot more people who want to run for the legislature (at least 152) than the DPP has (97 or so at this point?). That's good from the perspective of getting some defections over to the green side. In any case, the KMT says it will deal with each election area at a different time between April and June.

The DPP presidential candidate debate is this weekend.

Wang Jin-pyng refused to rule out running for president as an independent "during the negotiation phase." That seems to be a surprisingly strong statement from him. And he is not registered as a candidate for the 2007 election yet, a strong indication he's not hedging his bets.

The KMT wants Lien Chan, Wang Jin-pyng and Ma Ying-jeou to all show up for their big parade on 3/31. The parade, prompted by the name changes related to Chiang Kai-shek, is sure to be a doozy. The official them for the parade is: "Defend the Republic of China, oppose hatred, oppose corruption, oppose Taiwanese Independence; [We] want work, want clean government, and want peace" (捍衛中華民國，反仇恨、反貪污、反台獨；要工作、要清廉、要和平). They will also hold an event to remember the 30th anniversary of Chiang Kai-shek's death on April 5th.

Another clash in the Legislative Yuan is assured today. The KMT will again try to pass their bill that would assign seats to the Central Election Commission based on the proportional seats the party has in the legislature, and the DPP has vowed to prevent it again. The KMT move is probably meant to prevent any referendum the KMT sees as "scary" from being held at the same time as the legislative or presidential election.

The KMT stressed the lack of faith people have in the legal system and their hope it will be saved. This lack of faith ios a result of recent corruption charges, arrests, prosecutions and rumors. I am glad to be in an era where the guys can actually get charged, arrested and put in jail for these crimes. Of course, not many of them are getting caught. Guys in the business world tell me things are just as corrupt now as under the KMT, but you don't even know if your bribe will be effective (unlike before).

Some lawyers were at a civic conference talking about the KMT ill-gotten assets issue, and lawyer Chen Da-cheng (陳達成) suggested that private citizens who's property was taken should apply to have that property returned. The lawyer cited articles 71 and 72 of civic law, which he said should be basis enough to get the courts to return the property.

President has said he will, at least temporarily, not moderate negotiations over a future DPP presidential candidate. He did not rule out further negotiations at a later date.

Four yesses and one no, part II

1. An Assistant Secretary to the presidential office said that A-bian's "four yesses and one no" policy is a response to the constant escalation of the Chinese threats to Taiwan, and that the government has a responsibility to respond; as far as some people reading it as an election-related move, he stressed that national policy has it's own development and continuity, that the president picked an appropriate time and place to make the statement, and that it should not be misread as an election motivated move.

I don't buy it ;) But I also think A-bian's going somewhere with this other than just an election. But it's obvious that there's no way A-bian's proposals can get legislative approval, and it's also obvious the next legislature will still be blue. So it's a safe idea to promote it, considering it can't actually happen and the greens love it. UPDATE: The Executive Yuan has also said "Taiwan's already has indepdendent soverignty." (行政院：台灣主權已經獨立) That's a lot like Lee Teng-hui's position and A-bian's own previous statements. It also reinforces the idea that this is election rhetoric, and that Taiwan is doing damage control for US and Chinese relations.

2. A-bian's being sued by PFP legislators who believe he is inciting unrest and being treasonous/colluding with a foreign force (內亂、外患罪). The high court will have to deal with that. They threatened to cut funding to the government for pushing a "Republic of Taiwan" agenda. The presidential office has no response, of course.

This has to be one of the stupider lawsuits ever brought in Taiwan. How can you seriously expect anybody to take such a charge seriously? And what "foreign force" would the president be loyal to with these statements, Taiwanese independence? Why are they humiliating themselves like this?

3. DPP chairman Yu Shyi-kun has reaffirmed that he believes the "four yesses and one no" policy fits with the core values of the DPP. This will probably be his major issue when he goes for the DPP nomination, while Frank Hsieh and Su Chen-chang will pick different issues, probably focusing on "getting things done."

4. Lee Teng-hui accused the DPP of being the reason that makign a new constitution and rectifying Taiwan's name is impossible with the last round of constitutional amendments (the amendments set a super high threshold for constitutional reform by referendum).

5. The Chinese are basically saying A-bian's going of the deep end. They're highlighting blue reactions so they don't have to say so much themselves.

6. Ma Ying-jeou is taking a wait and see approach, saying A-bian often "forgets what he said" and that it's best to give this time to see how it goes. That's smart, because when A-bian makes waves he does often just say half of what he's eventually going to say. It's a way to get the opposition to come out and go rabid over some scarecrow, and then move on to the topic your eally want to talk about. For the KMT to not fall into the trap yet is smart of them for once.

卓榮泰：總統四要一沒有談話 與選舉無關

（中央社記者溫貴香台北五日電）總統府副秘書長卓榮泰今天表示，總統陳水扁「四要一沒有」的談話，是針對中國對台灣主權的威脅與日俱增，政府若置之不理是不負責任；有人將此解讀為選舉操作，他強調，國家政策有其發展性與延續性，總統選擇適當時機與場合發表重要談話，不應扭曲為與選舉有關。

總統提台灣要獨立 橘營提內亂外患訴訟 　

（中央社記者曹宇帆台北五日電）親民黨立法院黨團今天召開記者會表示，因總統陳水扁提「四要一沒有」主張台灣要獨立，意圖叛國涉及內亂外患罪，正式向台灣高等法院檢察署提出告訴，且立法院是中華民國立法院，若陳總統意欲推台灣獨立，一定拒審「台灣共和國」中央政府總預算案。

親民黨團告陳總統涉內亂罪 總統府：不回應

（中央社記者林長順台北五日電）總統陳水扁提出台灣要獨立等四要一沒有主張。親民黨團總召傅（山昆）萁（花蓮縣），和立委馮定國（台中縣）、劉文雄（不分區）、李復甸（不分區）今天到台灣高檢署告發陳總統涉嫌內亂罪。傅（山昆）萁說，總統不能把兩千三百萬人推向戰爭。總統府副秘書長卓榮泰對此表示，不回應。

總統拋四要一沒有 游魁:符合民進黨核心價值

Taiwan Quick Take: Editorial version

正名運動 Name Rectification

This is a losing issue for the KMT, and they aren't helping themselves by talking about it. They should let A-bian quietly do it, make very little protest. They certainly shouldn't talk about how they'd change the post office name back. This will hurt them.

國民黨黨內狀況 KMT Internal Situation

Ma has moved too fast by announcing his candidacy; he's lost the moral high ground. When he called for A-bian to step down, even taking out an ad, he insisted the indictment was a very good reason for a resignation; by declaring his own candidacy in identical circumstances, he's gonna lose a lot with the non-hardcore voters.

He won't be able to find a peaceful apartment in Kaohsiung, so I'm not sure why he wants to move down there. He's going to end up with protesters all over him. It's not a face-saving plan.

Honorary KMT Chairman Lien Chan is flying out of the bat cave to try and hold the KMT together and prevent any sort of Wang/Ma related infighting. I would almost think Wang is best off sitting this fight out, begin a loyal party member, giving his warnings quietly on the inside, wait for Ma to loose in '08, grab power then and force the KMT to really become Taiwan-oriented.

還黨產於民 Return KMT party property to the people

The KMT has a lot of party property that they obtained either from the Japanese government, gave or sold to themselves from the Taiwan provincial government, confiscated from private citizens or used other special privileges to obtain. The more people know about it, and the fact that Lee Teng-hui, Lien Chan and Ma Ying-jeou have all made great effort to sell off as much of it as possible to their friends before a DPP legislative majority or referendum could force them to give it back to the government.

I hope people demand the KMT return all the cash they've made from selling these assets to the national coffers. It will never really replace the original resources including companies and land, but it's all people can hope for.

Name rectification (Ciàⁿ-miâⁿ)

As everyone is probably aware, the Taiwanese name rectification issue is simply covering most of the news lately. Everyone's having their say:

The DPP is obviously pleased with itself.
KMT chairman Ma Ying-jeou has said the Taiwanese won't support it, it's a waste of time, asked them if they were going to try to change the national title too. He's also insisted the name changes are illegal and the KMT will prevent amending any law that would legitimize it.
PFP has said the would oppose a referendum on changing the country's name, which seems like they're looking ahead and maybe even trying to create a topic that has less public support because it is considered provocative to China.
TSU has announced that the company name changes are good, but that rectifying the country's name to Taiwan is even better; they've also openly solicited the public to help them think of a new party name in line with their theme of recreating the party's image as a left-center, Taiwan-centric but pragmatic party.

Taiwan changing state-run company names; Blues vow to block

So far, 4 companies have made some name changes: China Petroleum Company (CPC) (中國石油) will be renamed CPC Corp, Taiwan (台灣中油); China Shipbuilding Corp (CSBC) is being renamed to CSBC Corp, Taiwan (台灣國際造船); and the board of the Chunghua Post Co 中華郵政 has approved changing its name to Taiwan Post Co (台灣郵政). Stamps have already been updated. EDIT This just in: on its English website, the CENTRAL BANK OF CHINA: Repubic of China(Taiwan) has been renamed to Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

Blues vow to block the name, saying it was illegal to change the name without first amending related legislation,a nd that they would not vote for (prevent the passage of) any such legislation. They are right; if they block the name change, the company cannot legally change the name. The KMT has also promised it will slash the budget of the Post if it tries to implement the name changes.

The Blues have also deemed new textbooks as unconstitutional. They insist the constitution refers specifically to Taiwan and China as being one nation, the Republic of China. I don't believe that is quite the case.

美不支持正名 台聯盼美尊重 橘營疑講講而已

（中央社記者曹宇帆台北十日電）美國國務院表達不支持台灣推動國營企業正名的立場，立法院台聯黨團與橘營今天各表看法，台聯黨團表示，任何主權獨立國家都可更改所屬國營事業名稱，美方應給予尊重；親民黨團則根據過去案例，質疑最後淪為「講講而已」。

美國國務院表達對台灣政府推動國營企業正名的關切（Concern），國務院發言人麥考馬克指出，美國的政策是「不支持（do not support）」台灣行政部門採取任何試圖片面改變台灣現狀或朝向獨立的舉動，其中包括，美國不支持台灣當局更改所屬單位的名稱。

Taiwan vows to keep changing state-run company names despite US objections

TAIPEI (AP) Taiwan said Saturday it will stand by a campaign to remove references to rival China from Taiwanese state-run companies' names despite objections from Washington, the island's main ally.
...
U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack made Washington's disapproval clear at a regular briefing Friday in Washington.

``The United States does not ... support changes in terminology for entities administrated by Taiwan authorities,'' he said.

McCormack reiterated the policy of U.S. President George W. Bush's administration to not support Taiwan independence or steps to change the island's current status. The United States, like most countries, does not officially recognize Taiwan's government.

The AP article is very bad. As you can tell just by looking at the English in the Chinese article, the United States neither objected to nor disapproved of Taiwan's policy, merely declined to express support.

My personal feelings on all these name corrections is that many are overdue, they have all been practical (China Airlines hasn't changed it's name yet), and lower cost options seem to be favored. For example, while the DPP chairman expressed that local leaders should rename all the roads throughout Taiwan (in every city) named after Chiang Kai-shek, no local leader from any party has taken the bait on an expensive and basically unnecessary issue.

I mean, I look forward to the day when those street names really are changed, but you need a plan that works, such as doing so when people are already renewing ID cards and household registrations, or when you've slowly made all the signs to keep costs low, and when you've given lots of warning for businesses to change cards and whatnot.