Is Ma the turtle or the hare?

The tea leaves are hard to read here. On one hand, Ma has been very quick to talk about great integration with the Chinese economy; on the other, he is signing that he'll take it slow.

No early Taiwan-China economic ties seen (UPI)

Speaking to the Financial Times, Ma said he would not personally engage in dialogue with Chinese leaders, but let his government handle the deregulation of cross-Strait economic relations.

Taiwan president-elect cautious on swift China ties: report (AFP)

Ma told the Financial Times he would not personally engage in dialogue with Chinese leaders because such a move would be too controversial in Taiwan, where the outgoing ruling Democratic Progressive Party has alleged Hong Kong-born Ma would sell out the island to China....

Ma himself is not planning a visit to China.

"Once I go, you can imagine how many rumors would appear and how I would be discredited," he said.

Well then, the plan is apparent: improve ties, but do so by proxy and over a couple of years. This way Ma can avoid becoming the lightning rod for the anti-annexation campaigners and accomplish the goals.

I, like everyone, will be happy to see more investment in Taiwan and abroad by Taiwanese businessmen. What I'm not so eager to see is greater Chinese control over Taiwanese property. This goes back to my statement that the DPP should have run a "global economic center" campaign.

Then there's this piece of crap article from the China Post:

Overseas Chinese elated at Ma's win

There has [sic] been spontaneous outbursts of jubilation in most Chinese communities across Canada since Ma defeated DPP candidate Frank Hsieh in the March 22 election. There have been celebration dinners taking place from coast to coast. An air of festivity permeated the Chinese community everywhere, including the Cantonese-speaking and mainland Chinese groups. They heaved, collectively, a sigh of relief.

The dinner in Toronto was sponsored by the city's Friends of Ma Ying-jeou Club, in conjunction with Montreal's Ma-Siew Supporters Association. More than 500 people packed the Century Plaza Restaurant to celebrate what they believed the dawning of a new era of hope for Taiwan's revitalization.

"The long, dark, cold winter of Taiwan is over," said Yu Chi-ling, the emcee for the evening. "Finally, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel." The crowd roared and cheered, waving little flags of the Republic of China.

Right. Because everyone everywhere is happy about the Ma win. I'm sure if I were at the overseas Taiwanese center in Houston, I wouldn't be hearing sighs of relief.

Roundup 04-10

Talk Shows

Pending uploading, still. But I updated yesterday's 2100.

Headlines

New government will continue cooperation projects with allies: Ma (CNA)

Dollar diplomacy: we'll never get away from it.

Participants at Boao Forum will be treated equally, Siew says (Taiwan News)

Except for Taiwanese, who can't bring in their own passports or use their national title or symbols.

Ministry hands demerit to Taipower chairman (Taipei Times)
Reports point to economic achievements under DPP (Taipei Times)
KMT requests that military drill be postponed for Ma (Taipei Times)
DPP foresees NT$200m debt by end of the year (Taipei Times)
EDITORIAL: Taming the KMT dragon(Taipei Times)

A couple of weeks ago the legislature passed amendments proposed by KMT legislators Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔), Chu Fong-chi (朱鳳芝) and Ting Shou-chung (丁守中) that doubled the benefits given to traditionally pro-KMT village and borough chiefs nationwide, all at the taxpayers’ expense.

And then there are the proposed amendments to the Statute Governing Reconstruction of Old Military Dependents’ Villages (國軍老舊眷村改建條例) that will benefit the families of KMT military veterans to the tune of around NT$1.32 trillion (US$40.6 billion) if (or should one say when) it passes.

Is this the kind of government for “all the people” that those who voted for Ma expected?

Note: I don't think the borough chief bribe bill's been passed yet. It just got out of the procedural committee or something

Newly passed law

中華民國97年4月8日立法院第7屆第1會期第6次會議通過（公報初稿資料，正確條文以總統公布之條文為準）

修正毒品危害防制條例第二十四條條文

第二十四條 本法第二十條第一項及第二十三條第二項之程序，於檢察官先依刑事訴訟法第二百五十三條之一第一項、第二百五十三條之二之規定，為附命完成戒癮治療之緩起訴處分時，或於少年法院（地方法院少年法庭）認以依少年事件處理法程序處理為適當時，不適用之。

前項緩起訴處分，經撤銷者，檢察官應依法追訴。

第一項所適用之戒癮治療之種類、其實施對象、內容、方式與執行之醫療機構及其他應遵行事項之辦法及完成戒癮治療之認定標準，由行政院定之。

Newly introduced bills

No bills recently introduced by legislators. The EY did bring the following last session:

勞工保險條例部分條文修正草案
漢生病病人補償條例草案
所得稅法部分條文修正草案
就業服務法部分條文修正草案
臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例第二十四條及第三十五條條文修正草案

Afternoon headline

From ICRT ...

Potential Choice for Premier Says Wait for Announcement from Ma

Soochow University president Liu Zhao-xuan refused to comment today on
whether he would be offered the post ... or even if Ma had sought him out to
discuss the matter.

New link in Blogroll

Just got around to linking to Maoman. Sorry for the delay!

Talk shows

Last night's Talking Show:


And 2100:


Latest Boss Talk, which is April 4th's:

Apr. 8th new bills

These are only the bills brought by legislators. I can't imagine the government at this point raising anything but the most routine laws.

1. 臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例第十七條條文修正草案 (text)
   
2. 國籍法第四條條文修正草案 (text)
3. 社會救助法第五條條文修正草案 (text)
4. 刑事訴訟法部分條文修正草案 (text)
5. 道路交通管理處罰條例第六十五條條文修正草案 (text)
6. 法院組織法第十七條之二條文修正草案 (text)
7. 公職人員財產申報法第七條條文修正草案 (text)
8. 公職人員利益衝突迴避法部分條文修正草案 (text)
9. 立法院職權行使法第七十一條之一條文修正草案 (text)
10. 電業法第三十四條條文修正草案 (text)
11. 兒童教育與照顧法草案 (text)
12. 司法官法草案 (text)
13. 職業學校法第四條條文修正草案 (text)
14. 自由貿易港區設置管理條例部分條文修正草案 (text)
15. 工會法第四條條文修正草案 (text)
16. 農會法第十八條條文修正草案 (text)
17. 勞工保險條例第五條條文修正草案 (text)
18. 所得稅法第十七條及第三十六條條文修正草案 (text)
19. 就業服務法第五十五條條文修正草案 (text)

Headlines

MOEA approves proposals for US$86.7 million in China investment (ICRT)

Remember, that's a DPP government approving Chinese investment.

Ma turns down drill invitation (Taipei Times)

DPP to allow young party members to vote for chairman (Taipei Times)

The DPP plans to use the incentive to elect the next chairman as a way to bring more young people into the party after their loss. I think it's fundamentally unfair -- either all new members can vote for chairman, or everyone has to wait a year, as the old rule stipulates. Seems fair enough.

Hon Hai Kaohsiung investment plan earns praise (CNA via Taiwan News)

Deputy Kaohsiung Mayor Chiu Tai-san (邱太三) said yesterday he welcomed the plan by a local tycoon to invest in the port city, while another city official expressed the hope that the move would serve as an incentive to attract downstream manufacturers.

Taiwan Goal founding not illegal, says official (Taiwan News)

That one looked a little fishy to me.

MOEA gives promotion case to prosecutors (China Post)

AmCham examines 2008 presidential election (China Post)

Post-election direction for the blog

Now that the elections are over, I'm going to have to write about something serious here to avoid becoming a blow hard talking head! So I've decided to integrate the following regular features:

+ Daily roundup of last night's Talk Show footage (At least Talking Show and 2100 since someone uploads them every day, though I'll try to include FTV's Boss Talk and the TBS show when possible).

+ Updates of bills introduced in the Legislature. I'll try to keep a close eye on them.

+ The regular digest of breaking headlines in Taiwan and fresh analysis.

+ An improvement in my prose. I often write in a hurry when an article catches my eye. I will try to write at least more carefully, even if it doesn't make my content more interesting.

+ Occasional 'photo of the day' or 'quote of the day' posts. Obviously, the more regular I can do them, the better.

A better campaign for the DPP

Obviously, running an eight week campaign -- six of which was spent on the green card issue -- didn't work out too well. Now that we've all had time to digest the results, and since hindsight is 20/20, I thought I'd raise a few ways the DPP might have actually won the election, or at least gotten closer:

+ Run on global integration rather than Chinese-centric investment. Talk about world tourism, not just Chinese tourism. Don't exclude China from this discussion, but talk about making Taiwan an even more formidable global economic powerhouse. The message is positive and inclusive, with broad appeal.

+ Remember how the DPP ran ads deploring the Chinese statement at the WHO, "Who cares about you [Taiwanese]?" Instead of crying like babies about it and saying how the UN ought to include Taiwan, the DPP should have said, "Those commies were being jerks, but they're right. Nobody cares about us. And we've got to make ourselves economically stronger if we want them to pay attention. Let's not knock on the UN door begging for entry; let's make them beg for us to apply. Let's not grovel for WHO representation; let's become such a leader in health that they need us." Again, a more positive message that shows vision and direction. And it doesn't sound bitter and whiny.

+ Continue to point out that Taiwan is not provocative and doesn't want to be; but we can't sit idly by while the bully across the strait gets bigger and better clubs. Military modernization and spending should have had some place in the discussion.

+ Tried to more actively court the Hakka and Aboriginal community leaders based on DPP efforts over the last eight years to promote and preserve those cultures.

+ The DPP didn't realize that it's largely won the identity battle. Even those who don't believe in Taiwanese independence have to pay lip service to it, and unification is taboo. Twenty years ago, the situation was essentially reversed; even eight years ago, this was a real battle. But that battle is essentially over. All the young people consider themselves Taiwanese, though many don't have a strong emotional anti-China or anti-CKS-&-Co. reaction, because they didn't undergo the same brainwashing and social struggles. That being said, a Taiwan-centric campaign theme that didn't hammer on China would have been fine; A-bian's timing on name changes was terrible, and He probably should have changed them in 2005 or so.

Would we have won if the DPP followed the above advise? Probably not. You probably even think some of my advise is useless. But I thought we should discuss this question as a way of reflecting on not only what could have been done, but how the DPP can move forward from here.

Talk Shows

Here's the link to yesterday's, with the first video as usual:



And link to the first 2100:

DPP delaying Ma agenda

As I've been posting about, the KMT caucus has been pushing some laws that we could call the 'Ma Agenda,' including certain economic subsidies, spending, and cross-strait related bills.

The DPP caucus has apparently [CN] been using it's minimal weight to send plenty of them back to the procedural committee and keep them off the floor.

So far, the KMT has not overruled any of those moves, but if it so desired, could simply force the bills forward. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus acting Secretary-General Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) threatened to do just that today.

Hsieh Kuo-liang (Keelung City) has his name on most of the legislation being pushed right now, mostly by virtue of his title.

One nice thing I'd like to say about Hsieh: he's trying to remove a barrier to citizenship -- for both Chinese and other foreign spouses -- to apply for citizenship at this point, they have to prove they have enough money to support themselves. He'd like to remove that requirement.

Weaking the prosecutor, strengthening the defendant, or just doing the right thing?

In the wake of the controversy over the investigation into Ma Ying-jeou's special affairs fund case, KMT legislator John Chih-Yang Wu (吳志揚) is proposing amendments that would set strict rules requiring the prosecutors to tape interviews with defendants and important witnesses, make those tapes and transcripts available to the defendant for corrections, further open general evidence to the defendants' scrutiny, and some other things ... too busy to go through it all carefully, but if someone else wants to make a summary, I'll be happy to post it here.

LY report

Yesterday, April 7, the Legislative Yuan managed to pass one amendment that will allow the Executive Yuan to personally alter the business tax on grain, corn and soy bean imports.

Pretending you don't see natural price increases doesn't seem to be a good way to go about things, but lowering taxes is obviously better than subsidizing.

This is, as far as I can tell, the first bill actually passed by the legislature this session. There are many more in line.

Full text of amendment is as follows.

中華民國97年3月7日立法院第7屆第1會期第3次會議通過（公報初稿資料，正確條文以總統公布之條文為準）

增訂加值型及非加值型營業稅法第九條之一條文

第九條之一 為因應經濟特殊情況，調節物資供應，對進口小麥、大麥、玉米或黃豆應徵之營業稅，得由行政院機動調整，不受第十條規定限制。

前項機動調整之貨物種類、調整幅度、實施期間與實際開始及停止日期，由財政部會同有關機關擬訂，報請行政院核定公告之。

Restoring CKS personality cult

As we all saw over the weekend, President-elect Ma Ying-jeou paid his respects at the tombs of dictators Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo. I imagine the KMT will re-open the tomb full time soon.

Ma's declaration last week that "Of course the name change of CKS Memorial Hall to Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall" was invalid is one thing. But his party is put the phrasing Dazhong Zhizheng 大中至正 back up -- though the bill would also leave up "Liberty Square."

Again, notice the timing: all of the things that would garner no support are pushed while people are exhausted of politics, Ma's popularity is highest and he is not yet in office.

Declawing time ...

With the presidency and legislature in the bag, the KMT is busy passing bills to significantly increase the agricultural budget, making RMB exchanges easier, paying off low-level officials and talking about sunshine laws.

The KMT could have done some or all of this months or years ago. But then more farmers or concerned tax payers might have voted for the DPP, and we couldn't have that. (Note the timing on the worst bills such as the low-level official bribe -- by doing this right after the election, the legislature is both giving a nod to the low-level officials' contribution to the KMT victory and making this an issue that will fade from everyone's memory by the next legislative election in four years).

The KMT legislative caucus also wants to declaw the DPP by taking a key weapon used to freeze legislation: blocking the path to the platform.

The KMT proposal would give the speaker (Wang Jin-pyng) power to use force to remove legislators. But that's not all! The amendment would shorten the current inter-party negotiation time limit from 4 months to 1 month -- meaning the DPP will not be able to not even be able to slow down any legislation, either.

Let's face it: a bunch of legislators yelling and blocking the speaker's microphone is not classy. But with a procedural committee and process that depend almost entirely on majority rule, and with the negotiation window getting smaller, blocking the session from starting is almost the only thing the DPP could do.