The CEC has set the dates: the legislative election will be held on Jan. 12 and the presidential election on Mar. 22.
That takes care of that, barring unforseen changes (unlikely, but of course, "That's Impossible" is the name of this blog).
KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) insisted today that this "One Taiwan, two interpretations" formula was a practical way of solving the constant internal political debate on this topic.
Ma coined the formulation in a CNA interview a few days ago. He believes the DPP's position is that "Taiwan is already independent, but is just called the ROC right now," while the KMT position is that "The Republic of China has been independent since its founding in 1912."
Of course, The DPP stance is that Taiwan is independent -- from the People's Republic of China in particular. On the other hand, the KMT can't even say The People's Republic of China, so their statement about the ROC always being independent in no way addresses the real problem.
Is he serious? Doesn't he see how idiotic this is? It's an absolutely meaningless position that is just going to get him slammed if people even bother paying attention to it.
Only 5 days until the verdict in Ma's corruption case!
Update: great video from SET TV/South News.
http://www.southnews.com.tw/videos/00/200708/0809_1_3.htm
KMT legislator John Chiang (蔣孝嚴), illegitimate grandson of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石), has lost his slander lawsuit against DPP chairman Yu Shyi-kun (遊錫堃).
John Chiang had been infuriated by Yu's remarks that Chiang Kai-shek was ultimately responsible for the 228 massacre. He says he "cannot accept" the court's decision but is unsure if he'll appeal.
From Taipei Times a while back:
Nearly 61 percent of those polled in the Taiwan Thinktank survey conducted on Feb. 13 and Feb. 14 said it was acceptable to place the blame for the massacre on Chiang, while about 28 percent did not.Basically, John Chiang is the only person still willing to defend Chiang Kai-shek in any way, which is why he is critical on any TVBS show that discusses him. All other blue commentators simply brush over anything CKS did and focus on how the DPP should just leave sleeping dogs lie.
Ma's on "Long Stay 2: The Sequel," so he obviously is doing lots of Southern type things. So naturally, he also talked to some fishermen in Chiayi today.
And he came up with a brilliant plan: just as farmers here are given a subsidy when their fields lay fallow, Ma decided fisherman could use a subsidy too for when ... well, he's not sure when, but some "appropriate time period." I guess when its not fishing season. He also hoped he could pay for 28% of the gas/oil ships use (in addition to the 20% of the oil cost the state already subsidies the whole country with).
Now trying to buy off special interests is standard fare for any election, but I find Ma's call particularly hypocritical since less than two weeks ago he called providing subsidies for certain industries "pretty much lying to get votes."
And speaking of lying to get votes (騙選票), a favorite phrase used by politicians on both sides of the aisle here, I found an interesting trend when Google News searching the phrase. Blues accuse greens of lying for votes on policies the blues themselves hate -- a new constitution, changing Taiwan's official name, referendum issues. It seems amazingly counter-productive to say your opponent's policy is terrible, awful, disastrous and immediately turn around and say, "well, he doesn't mean it."
In contrast, the greens accuse blues of lying for votes when greens support the policy -- democratic reform, anti-corruption measures, or loving Chiang Wei-shui (蔣渭水).
Who: Me, my lovely wife and anyone who wants to come!
What: Going away party
Where: The former Shochu, now 十號酒店 (or 十號商店? I forget what the new name is)
Address: No. 10, Alley 420, Guangfu South Rd., Taipei City (台北市光復南路420巷10號)
When: Saturday, August 18, 2007 ~ starting around 9:15 pm
Why: We're moving to Kaohsiung at the end of the month, so we have to have a celebration!
Want more details, want to confirm, or want to call me in case you get lost on the way? Then call: 0930 730 821
Wow. Now that's an inventive formulation.
（中央社記者陳亦偉台北六日電）國民黨總統參選人馬英九今天接受中央社專訪表示，台灣現狀是「一個台灣、各自表述」。民進黨認為台灣已經獨立，只是目前叫 中華民國，國民黨始終認為，中華民國是主權獨立國家，而中國大陸對「中華民國」也比對「台獨」較能容忍，現狀各自表述下，中華民國是各方最大公約數。Now notice though that the DPP position that Taiwan is indepent implies that Taiwan is independent from China. The KMT position that the ROC is independent implies no such thing.
(CNA) KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou said in a CNA interview today that Taiwan's status quo is "One Taiwan, two interpretations." The Democratic Progressive Party states that Taiwan is already independent though it is called the Republic of China right now; The KMT has always believed that the ROC is a soverign and independent country and that the Chinese mainland can more easily tolerate a "Republic of China" than "Taiwanese independence." Given the two different interpretations of the status quo [held by the blues and greens], the title "Republic of China" is the common denominator.
Taiwan never did have a strong labor movement, and leftist sympathizers who might have talked about protecting the working class or peasants would have been shot by the KMT in the past for being secret Communist agents. So it's not surprise that Taiwan does not currently have a traditional labor party either.
But things are shaping up in a surprising way this election. We've already discussed how the Taiwan Farmers Party was formed several weeks ago (ever since its opening meeting, it has disappeared off the radar completely). Now there's this news:
And then today, these union people said they would not rule out "staying in contact" with the Farmers Party. A united front there would present a pretty solid labor-oriented party. Since their aspirations are reasonable (only running for at large seats), it's quite possible they could secure some measure of the vote.The Chunghwa Telecom Workers' Union (CTWU) may team up with other industrial unions nationwide to form a new political party and field their own candidates in the next legislative elections, union chairman Chang Hsu-chung (張緒中) said yesterday....
Workers groups have been dependent on other political parties to fight for their rights and interests, Chang said, but by organizing their own party, the workers would have a better means to advance their causes.He said that NT$10 million (US$304,000) in funding had already been secured, enough for the proposed party to field 10 candidates in the Jan. 12 polls.
Chang said members of national federations of industries, as well as the CTWU and the Formosa Plastics Workers' Union met on July 19 for a preparatory meeting for the establishment of the new party, tentatively named the "Workers Solidarity Union." These representatives will meet again on Aug. 21, when the party could be formally established, he said..
He said the new party would campaign for a nationwide referendum on a workers' version of a pension policy, instead of an Executive Yuan's annuity policy; a referendum on banning dispatch workers and guarantees that would stabilize employment opportunities....
With 8.6 million workers in Taiwan, political analysts said the proposed party could turn into a force to be reckoned with if it wins the support of union members around the country.
Nobody seems to know.
Ma says he will certainly be the #1 legislator.
Some KMT legislators attacked his performance in the Legislative Yuan as speaker (he acted too weakly by allowing greens to disrupt proceedings without disciplining them), to which Wang himself said there should be internal discussion on this topic.
His supporters say he will naturally still leave the legislative caucus and be the first man (the safest seat) on the party's at large legislator list, the same place he was last election. They say anything else happens, it would hurt if not kill the party.
Wang says he never had any particular aspirations and will handle any situation calmly.
The party itself hasn't yet asked Wang to run, and didn't exactly say whether were going to.
As early as 11 pm tonight, there could be a warning to stay off the choppy waters. Get ready for to be soaked ...
I thought I'd use my blog for a shameless self plug. I've created some T-shirts at Cafepress (my profit margin on all items is $1). The "Stop the KMT" shirt designed was originally made by Kenbo Liao in 1993. Used with his permission.
www.cafepress.com/taiwanshirts
Shih Ming-teh (施明德) and 15 other leaders of the Oct. 10 siege on the Presidential Palace (天下圍攻) are being charged with violating the Assembly and Parade Law.
Shih and those others charged are saying the Assembly and Parade Law is a joke left over from an authoritarian time (true) that the DPP should have gotten rid of already (hard to do when you can't pass laws in a blue legislature, but still true) and expressed surprise the DPP government would now use it to charge him.
Shih said he would appear in court for the charges and not appeal any decision. Shih sarcastically noted he has been imprisoned by every previous president of Taiwan, had expected A-bian wouldn't put him in jail but it looked like the odds of going to jail were pretty good.
The Taipei District Prosecutor's Office wrapped up the preliminary investigation yesterday. The Executive is not directly involved. The prosecutor in this case said Shih knew he was acting illegally and had no regrets, an important reason he pressed charges.
Meanwhile, since it was then KMT chairman and Taipei mayor Ma Ying-jeou who violated all precedent and allowed these people their month long, 24 hour-a-day rally in the first place, some DPP people said Ma owes an apology (to the city? to Shih? I'm not sure). Using rhetoric that you may hear on a playground, Ma's response was that A-bian should say he's sorry since the whole parade was a result of A-bian's (unproven) corruption. Ma added that the KMT had already brought a bill to alter the Assembly and Parade Law, a decision made soon after Ma became chairman.
I can find information about the bill being proposed, and a DPP response that the KMT's propsoed changes were totally wreckless, as well as a personal favor to Shih more than anything else. It looks like the DPP held the proposed amendments up in committee.
==============
DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh said "even a disgusting law is a law," apparently supporting the decision to prosecute.
A Liberty Times article today suggested that China may be planning to introduce a new resolution to the UN related to Taiwan in retaliation for Taiwan's recent moves to be included in the UN. The resolution would probably more or less say "Taiwan is part of the People's Republic of China."
Actually, it sounds like the best possible strategy for them. You sort of fight fire with fire, but without any fire. If you get what I mean.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) , the two green parties in Taiwan, have not yet been able to find a way to coordinate their legislative nomination processes.
The DPP has decided to hold another telephone poll to gauge the popularity of any TSU candidates vs the DPP nominee. DPP legislators who have already secured the party nomination are frustrated, since they may yet be told they can't run for the party. The TSU isn't happy with the decision either, since they want to negotiate nominations with the DPP (since most TSU legislators can't win the opinion poll vs. a DPP legislator). Still, the TSU hasn't ruled out using the poll to decide on a nominee and will form a committee to study the plan.
In other words, not a lot of people are pleased with the decision (gasp! compromise!), but we're not sure what will really happen in the end.
Pretty great article (Chinese) from current affairs commentator Li Huaqiu of China Review News. Surprisingly balanced and well written. Will try to translate if I get time. Here's another that's surprisingly pro-democracy and understanding of Taiwan's position.
The Chinese foreign ministry has said that the Taiwan referendum on entering the UN is a serious threat to security in the Taiwan Strait. We'll see how far their official rhetoric goes. For now, most Chinese media are happy to copy or summarize United Daily News and China Times articles and editorials.
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.
