Legislative procedure

As everyone knows, I try to keep up with the going ons of the Legislative Yuan. And yesterday there was a bit of an incident that reveals a lot about that body's current situation.

Yesterday during a meeting to discuss a budget proposal in the LY Education and Culture Committee, My least favorite female KMT legislator, Hong Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) [At large], and my second least favorite female DPP legislator, Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) [Kaohsiung City-2], got into a bit of a scuffle.

Here's how it went down:

Three Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers held up signs that read “Full control of the government means full authoritarianism” when the meeting began in a bid to boycott the committee’s review of the budget proposal.

The three legislators want to submit a proposal to cut the council’s budget but need another legislator to endorse their request in order to put it on the agenda.

The DPP only has three seats in the committee, however, so their initiative has been put aside.

The council is requesting NT$35.9 billion (US$1.08 billion) for the next fiscal year.

During the review, DPP Legislator Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) slapped Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) on the face after Hung accidentally injured Kuan’s assistant in the eye as Hung was trying to push a poster away.

Kuan and Hung got into a heated exchange, with Hung accusing Kuan of staging a “show” and Kuan scolding Hung for hurting her assistant.

In the end, the committee cut NT$152.8 million from the budget request before passing it.

After that, Kuan and Hung both held press conferences to condemn each other like little babies. Kuan's aid obviously got the raw end of the deal and had to wear an eye patch.

Besides demonstrating how the whole LY is childish, this incident shows how little power the DPP has when it comes to Legislative Yuan procedures. The DPP cannot vote down, filibusterer, or bottle up in committee and KMT bills; much more seriously, the DPP cannot even raise proposals like amendments. They don't have the committee or floor power.

(Of some importance to this case, but not to the larger issue, the DPP was trying to violate procedure when asking to raise an amendment during this budget discussion meeting; further, the DPP caucus apparently declined a KMT offer to raise the amendment because the KMT wouldn't sign on if the amendment was raised in the DPP caucus' name, and on this point the DPP was perhaps unnecessarily insistent).

In terms of what's best for the LY and democracy, it's best to alter committee procedural rules to allow three (instead of four) members to raise proposals. DPP chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and the DPP caucus whip today asked Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) to do just that, and Wang while expressed interest in making such changes yesterday, today he told the DPP to control its own people first and worry about procedures later.

So the LY is still a scary and childish place if you ask me.

CCW up in arms about lack of T-SPAN

CCW blasts Wang for not delivering live video feeds

By Loa Iok-Sin
STAFF REPORTER
Thursday, Oct 02, 2008, Page 3 Citizen Congress Watch (CCW) staged a demonstration outside the Legislative Yuan yesterday, protesting Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng’s (王金平) failure to fulfill a promise to allow public access to the legislature’s video-on-demand (VOD) system.

“Wang promised several times during the past legislative session, and again in August, that he would endeavor to allow public access to live broadcasts of legislative meetings through the legislature’s VOD system as soon as this session starts in September,” CCW chairman Ku Chung-hwa (顧忠華) said.

“But obviously, he has failed to fulfill that promise,” Ku said.

Someone else will cover KMT VP stuff

So I'll post this about Wang:

1) Wang is a fan of the Ma-Siew ticket, saying his expertise, experience and "native" label will help Ma.

2) Wang mentioned that he has not been tapped yet to be a legislator at large (and Chiu Yi is!?!? Will the KMT ever get with the program?) nor as a legislator in a district. Wang says at this point, he has no plans to run for the legislature again and that for now he simply wishes to take care of current legislative business. What would he do next?

對於未來的規劃，王金平微笑表示「再說吧」。
In regards to his future plans, Wang softly smiled and said, "we'll see."

Winston Wong wants Wang Jin-pyng to be Prez

Winston Wong (王文洋), the chief executive officer of the Grace T.H.W. Group (宏仁集團) and son of Taiwan's richest billionare Publish PostWang Yung-ching (王永慶), has come out saying during an interview with CNA that he believes Taiwan needs a knowledgeable, selfless president, and that Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) is the man for the job. Winston believes there's plenty of time before the election and that when the time comes, Wang Jin-pyng will come out to run not for himself, but for the people.

Wang Jin-pyng, accepting the compliments, said he would work hard to get Ma elected (at this juncture). The fact is he mostly refuses to entirely rule out the possibility he'll run for president, which I like.

Farmers' Party update

Nothing really happened on this today; just what you'd expect. China Post noted that Farmers and Fishermens associations would join hands with timber and livestock industries for the party. Also, read Michael Turton's great article on Farmers Associations and rural politics.

Ma Ying-jeou suggested while talking to the media that Wang Jin Pyng be the KMT bridge to the Farmer's Party people and go "communicate with them" (read: talk them out of forming the party). Wang declined, stating:

「我沒有接到這樣一個，命令也好，或者是這樣要求也好，並沒有收到，這個黨的組成跟我一點關係也沒有，大家都很清楚的，那又何必一定要怎樣」。

"I haven't gotten anything [about talking to the Farmers' Party] -- no order, no request, I haven't got anything like that at all. [The Farmers' Party]'s formation has nothing at all to do with me, everybody is very clear on that. So why is it that I must do something?"

Wang also pointed out that there are people in the KMT Central Standing Committee closer to those forming the party than Wang himself is, a hint that there's no reason to automatically suspect him. He said he got no advance notice no this one.

The China Times has an interesting article about how small farmers are not excited. Of course, the China Times is printing this as a preemptive strike to minimize the force of the new party, but it raises a great point -- the people who often run the farmer's and fishermen's associations are generally black gold people who care little for the farmers or fishermen, and those commoners get ignored by both parties until an election is around the corner.

TVBS is reporting that the parties slogans include "We want to destroy the KMT and split the DPP." But I seriously doubt this, as I've seen it nowhere else and it would be extremely provocative.

Here's the English articles on it for today:
Wang Jin-pyng denies link to new political party (Taipei Times)
'Farmers' Party' to be inaugurated on June 15 (China Post)

The Taiwan Farmers' Party and Wang Jin-pyng (王金平)

The Taiwan Farmers' Party (台灣農民黨) will be officially formed in Kaohsiung. It is being put together by the Farmer's and Fisherman's association (農漁會), a grass-roots organization who's leaders are largely native-Taiwanese and KMT sympathetic. The person in charge of forming the party is Hsiao Han-chun (蕭漢俊), director of the Kaohsiung County Farmers' Association. He is considered part of the "White faction" (白派), which is also what Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) is (as opposed to the Red or Black factions).

The announcement instantly sparked KMT outrage and fear of a split in the party.

Wang insists he knows nothing about it and had no hand in it, but says it won't hurt the KMT in particular but would affect all parties; Ma asked Wang to clarify and that he simply can't believe that Wang knew nothing about this; The KMT Central Standing Committee threatened to revoke party membership of anyone who joins the Farmers' Party (something party regulations provide for), though the Party Secretary said the situation wasn't that serious; and other high-ranking CSC people also said they don't believe Wang wasn't involved. KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung also said the KMT would continue to communicate with the Associations to prevent the party from being formed.

The Farmers' Party people say they aren't going to put up a presidential candidate in 2008 and only want to compete for at large seats in the legislative election (now set for January 12th of 2008).

If you are wondering about the significance about Taiwan in the party's name, I would suggest it might not mean very much. Taiwan already has a "Farmers' Party" (農民黨), so the decision could be based on the fact that two parties can't register the same name.

Shocking Wang rant

While I have yet to see any video footage or hear an audio recording of this event, Wang avoids confirming or denying that he said these things (a sure sign he did).

遭王批評「是什麼東西」　馬尷尬：沒親耳聽到不相信 (ETToday)

Here are the key paragraphs, though it's hard to tell exactly how sensationalized it is:

週六王金平南下彰師大演講，一聽到學生問他為何拖延馬王配，整個人突然很火大立刻發飆。王金平先罵特定媒體天天批評他，拖延馬王配拖了半年，不過其實早在四月份，王金平就已經明確拒絕馬英九，哪裡有什麼拖延的問題。

他表示，當時國民黨還沒有正式提名馬英九參選總統，他不懂馬英九是憑什麼來找他搭檔，「馬英九算是什麼東西？」

說到這裡兩人關係如何已經不言可喻，王金平這時補上一句，不管如何還是希望國民黨能選贏得總統大位，所以2008年他將含淚投票。

While giving a speech at the National Changhua University of Education on Saturday, Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), student ask why he had procrastinated on the Ma-Wang ticket issue. As soon as Wang heard this question, his whole person immediately became a whirlwind of anger. Wang first scolded media for attacking him daily for procrastinating on the Ma-Wang ticket for half a year, even though Wang had actually clearly refused Ma's offer back in April: where was the so-called procrastination?

He said that when the KMT had not formally nominated Ma Ying-jeou, Wang said he didn't understand on what authority Ma could come and ask him to be his running mate, and asked, "How worthless is Ma Ying-jeou?"

When it came to the issue of how the Wang-Ma relationship was already tattered beyond description, Wang repaired his previous statement, saying that no matter what, he wanted to see the KMT retake the presidency, so in 2008 he could only hold back his tears and cast his vote.

When questioned on the issue, Ma basically said "Wang wouldn't say anything like that, and I haven't heard it from him." When questioned about the statements the day after he made them, Wang basically said "I'm a loyal party member and want us to win."

I wonder what Wang was thinking, if he was thinking? Could he have been baiting Ma? Is this a sign of things to come? What will happen?

Wang likely to decline VP slot

The KMT is bracing itself for the fact that Wang is very unlikely to accept a VP slot.

A Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmaker yesterday said that efforts to form a presidential ticket with former KMT chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) as the presidential candidate and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) as the vice presidential candidate were "a hopeless cause."

This obviously comes as no surprise. Wang seems to still be biding his time for a run, whether it's when Ma loses in '08 or if he can't run in '08 for another reason.

The Wang-Ma hip hop crew

I don't think an American politician would be caught dead wearing this, but I also wish they'd be willing to wear such things.

Wang / Ma business

This afternoon, the KMT will nominate Ma as its presidential candidate. Ma has said he is working hard to get in touch with Wang Jin-pyng, who apparently ignored about 30 calls from Ma yesterday. When pressed by media, Wang said there was no hurry to decide and that the two of them should meet with Lien Chan first. Another report says Wang is in private discussions with Lien over exactly how to proceed.

Who knows what exactly is going to happen here, especially with a Ma indictment being a real possibility.

News briefs

Wu asks legislative losers to work for Ma's '08 campaign, takes shot at Wang
Responding to pressure to find jobs for those legislators who will be unemployed after the new districting system cuts off half the seats, KMT party chairman Wu Poh-hsiung says he hopes those who don't get nominated will work on the '08 election team. Wu also hinted that Wang Jin-pyng needed to check his own heart for hatred before suggesting a minority's political elite (KMT high-level so-called mainlanders) were controlling the majority (so called native Taiwanese).

DPP pushes referenda, WHO using Taiwan
The DPP has resolved to push a three part referenda strategy before the '07 election. First, they seek to lower the barriers to the referenda and remove the power of a legislative committee to pre-approve certain referenda. Second, they will continue to push their KMT party assets referendum. And third, they would probably be interested in a constitution-related referendum. The KMT is not amused and will (successfully) block most of these measures (they are weakest on the party assets referendum).

The DPP also wants to apply for the WHO under the name of Taiwan (not really referenda related, I supose).

TSU will decide on whether or not to change their name on 4/21 (ETToday)

KMT localization faction (本土派) watch

There are frequent reports in the newspapers here about the "localization" faction (本土派) and more lately the "pro-Wang [Jin-pyng] (王金平)" faction (挺王派), but it is normally difficult to tell who belongs to these factions.

That's probably for a good reason. Any group of people within the KMT that openly identified with DPP-like Taiwan-oriented policies would likely face a quick flushing. That's why even Wang himself, who is seen as the faction's leader, has said in the past "not to call him" a pro-localization figure (「不要叫我本土派」). Only when announcing he would not run did he bring any localization-related complaints out into the open.

The secretive nature of the faction is also a result of a practical decision by reporters. They may only be able to get KMT figures who lean toward localization to make any statements unnamed or off the record. And if questioned on the record, these legislators or officials may well deny, as Wang did, having anything to do with a localization faction.

In addition, the issue is further complicated the overlap with another reform-minded group in the KMT, Often called the "50s-60s Alliance" or the "Middle-aged faction" (五六聯隊、青壯派). And remember, pro-localization does not mean pro-DPP.

That being said, one can still gather some sense of which legislators are thought of as pro-localization or pro-Wang. Let's take a look at the list, gathered using a few internet resources I've linked to here. And I will try to keep you updated on who is going to run for re-election in the next legislative run once the KMT has chosen all its nominees.

Pro-localization legislators (本土派) (11)
Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) | Hsu Shu-po (許舒博) | Tseng Tsai Mei-tso (曾蔡美佐) | Lin Yi-shih (林益世) | Lo Shih-hsiung (羅世雄) | Lin Nan-sheng (林南生) | Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) | Shyu Jong-shyoung (徐中雄) | Chen Hung-chang (陳宏昌) | Apollo Chen (陳學聖) | Chang Chang-tsai (張昌財)

Pro-localization KMT Central Standing Committee Members who aren't legislators (2)
Hung Yu-chin (洪玉欽) | Chu Feng-chi (朱風芝)

Other legislators called pro-Wang (5)

Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順)¹ | Ho Tsai-feng (侯彩鳳) | Caucus whip Kuo Su-chun (郭素春) | Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) | Chang Sho-wen (張碩文)

¹ Huang doesn't like the label

Sources:
Taipei Times article
This pdf document, which seems damaged but who's content could be seen in part on google search results

Wang not running; Shih's third force

Head of the Legislative Yuan Wang Jin-pyng announced today that he will not register for the KMT primary. He made several complaints that are far more controvertial, divisive and irritated than most of the things this man says (he's my favorite KMT man because he rarely speaks nonsense, even if that means he's kept quiet on obvious KMT contradictions and problems).

Wang complained that a minority had control over the ethnic majority in the party; questioned if such a minority of political experts and stars had the qualifications to rule over the majority; and said the whole procedure was rigged from the beginning with no chance of a fair contest. He will focus on maintaining the KMT majority in the legislature (a good political issue to grab since the KMT will stop the KMT without question in that election due to the districting and seat numbers.

Ma, sees the problem as a minority trying to avoid discrimination and be liked enough by the majority to get elected, and feels his odds are good.

This also doesn't bode well for future Ma-Wang cooperation. I believe Wang's plan involves sitting out and waiting for Ma to be charged, even if he is running no matter what (thanks Michael).

=================

Former DPP chairman and leader of the "Depose A-bian" campaign, Shih Ming-teh, has announced the next phase of his plan.

Shih said that while he would not run in the year-end legislative elections, the anti-Chen campaign would organize a "third force" and nominate candidates to offer the people a choice beyond the green-versus-blue division.

Shih said that while he would not run in the year-end legislative elections, the anti-Chen campaign would organize a "third force" and nominate candidates to offer the people a choice beyond the green-versus-blue division.

He said campaign staffers had anticipated that "Chen or the Democratic Progressive Party could break Chen's promise made last Nov. 5 that he would step down if first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) were found guilty in the first trial [in the `state affairs' fund case]."

... He did not, however, provide any specific details about his new anti-Chen campaign.

Now this is a threat to the KMT and PFP since many wanna-be legislators won't get nominated. The KMT already has 152 people registered to run for a mere 113 nominations. That doesn't include all the city councils and local officials who had wanted to run but were denied the right to to register. And splitting over to the Shih camp may be seen as safer by some KMT guys than switching over to the DPP side.

I'm not sure Shih will be able to exert any influence at all, but any influence he does exert will be bad news for the blues.

=================

Wang to visit China as a bipartisan? Not running for president?

There are reports today that Wang Jin-pyng will be visiting China "in the capacity of the governmental leader most representative of Taiwanese public opinion" (台灣最高民意機關領導人的身分). There is talk that he would sign an understanding with the Chinese Communist Party as a "cross-partisan representative"(率跨黨派立委登陸簽署重大協議). Rumor has it the DPP government has even given him room to negotiate or sign an agreement (可能獲政府公權力授權).

The reports seem to be substantial, since Ma has said he'd be happy to see Wang succeed and KMT Vice Chairman Chiang Ping-kun (江丙坤) has warned not to expect a miracle overnight. Wang seems to be trying to stay quiet.

The PRC's Taiwan Affairs Council has also made a really uncharacteristically fast response, saying Wang would be welcomed to come "at the appropriate time, in the appropriate capacity." They said the visit would be to talk about opening up banking and shipping regulations between the areas, and reiterated China welcomes any politician who accepts the "92 concencus" and opposes Taiwanese independence."

=================

The second report today is that Wang Jin-pyng has said under the table he will not run in the KMT primary and will hold off on deciding to run as an independent until there's more information about Ma's special allowance fund case. Even Beijing is reporting that at People's Daily.

If this is true, I think it shows a real shrewdness; Wang's seeing he'll probably lose a battle within the KMT at this point, and if he "splits the party" he'll probably be left in the cold by the voters; so it seems he's gambling something will go wrong with Ma's case (he'll be guilty), and then an opportunity will present itself for Wang to run as an "independent" with the KMT's full support.

Election roundup (03/19)

In general:

1. Central Election Commission chair Masa Chang (aka Chang Cheng-hsiung (張政雄)) has said that a social concensus would be required before holding the legislative and presidential elections at the same time.
2. DPP legislator Chen Chin-de (陳金德) caused an uproar today by promoting a draft constitution for a "Second Republic of the ROC" that had been written by the TSU affiliated Taiwan Thinktank. It called for a cabinet system (which he agrees would create a very weak presidency) and would write into the constitution the so called "two countries" formula (兩國論), which Taida professor Chen Ming-tong (陳明通) described as "reality." For its part, the KMT decided to fly off the handle, saying they would oppose the draft and saying Chen was seeking "de jure independence" and was trying to spark a war, rhetoric that is typical from the Chinese Communist Party but not the KMT.
   

On the DPP side:

1. A group of DPP party members led by DPP Central Committee member Huang Ching-lin (黃慶林) have made a proposal to strengthen the primary and weaken the opinion poll for choosing legislators. They proposed changing party rules to allow the At large nominees to be chosen entirely by primary and for the presidental and districted legislative nominees to be weighted 50% primary, 50% opinion poll. (中央社)
2. There are conflicting reports on how the DPP whether A-bian has thrown his weight behind a primary or if he will continue to try to negotiate the DPP nominee among the interested parties.
   

On the KMT side:

1. Wang supporters said yesterday that a possible "third force" within the party, namely either Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄), Wu Den-Yih (吳敦義) or some combination, may sort of overwhelm the current thinking of a Wang/Ma or Ma/Wang ticket. Why? Because Ma may not be able to run legally for the KMT because of this special affairs fund. Note: I think Wang here is not so much promoting either Wu as a candidate so much as he wants to remind everyone of Ma's legal vulnerability and what that might mean to the chances of winning in '08.
2. Legislator Lee Sen-zong (李顯榮) has already stated that he's angry with the KMT for not negotiating with Wu Yu-sheng (吳育昇) about who will run in Taipei County, Dist. 1 He's threatening to leave and run on the DPP ticket! The KMT has played down the effects of any such run and also emphasized that they have not given up on negotiating this thing through. (中央社) Note: This is the most obvious of several cracks that should appear within both parties over the nomination process and could lead to defectors.
3. Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) registered to run for party chairman and indicated she wanted a debate. Candidate Wu Poh-hsiung did not indicate much interest but did not rule the idea out either. (RTI)
4. As people registered to run in the primary for legislative seats within the KMT, Former Pingtung mayor Wang Chin-shih (王進士) announced his candidacy for Pingtung District 2. Note: I have a particular interest in this district. Unlike last week, I'll wait until all the registration is finished this week before posting the results (with this obvious exception).
   

Election roundup (03/14)

DPP presidential contenders agree to chose nominee via negotiations (聯合報，自由時報)
Move may avoid potentially divisive primary

All four major candidates, including Frank Hsieh, Annette Lu, Su Chen-chang and Yu Shyi-kun also signed an agreement not to run as an independent and confirmed their plans to conduct a debate for all the candidates before taking another opinion poll and/or conducting a DPP primary.

Former New Tide faction of the DPP calls for changes to public poll method (中時)

The legislators suggested that when polling about legislative candidates, the DPP would be better off asking if someone supported independence or unification would be better than asking who they had voted for in the last three elections.

Other legislators in the DPP, who seem not to be getting along so well with the former New Tide faction people, don't welcome their suggestion.

KMT to open registration for legislative primary next week (聯合，中央廣播電臺)

The party tried to amend a rule for the primary to limit local mayors and township chiefs from registering, but did not manage to pass the amendment due to lack of quorum. The move was aimed at making it easier for current legislators to keep their seats.

The amendment stipulates that those currently serving in office may not register unless they've completed half of their current term of office. Because most local-level elections were held in December 2005, no local mayors or township chiefs will be able to run.*

(*Well, I dunno, maybe some can run, but I guess you'd have to have a pretty special circumstance that had you in office earlier).

Lai Ching-te wants to run for a legislative seat ... and for the Tainan mayorship

DPP legislator Lai Ching-te (賴清德) signed up today for the DPP primary for legislative seats. He also expressed interest in running for the office of Tainan mayor three years from now. He did not register for the legislative primary.

Wang says Wang-Ma and Ma-Wang aren't the only KMT ticket options (ETTV)

KMT presidential hopeful Wang Jin-pyng indicated his willingness to pair up with Wu Poh-hsiung or Lien Chan in a run for the presidency. He also indicated that a Ma-Wang ticket was an option the party had, perhaps softening recent comments that a Wang-Ma ticket was the obvious option.

Day Three of DPP legislative primary registration (中央社)

Now complete!

On the third day of registration, 26 people signed up for districted seats, while 8 signed up for an at large seat.

The DPP now has two candidates signed up for every district in Kaohsiung County, meaning the party will conducct opinion polls and perhaps an actual primary to decide who will run.

The at large registrees are: You Ying-lung (游盈隆), Luo Wen-chia (羅文嘉), Chiou Yi-ying (邱議瑩), Wang Sing-nan (王幸男), Hsu Jung-shu (許榮淑), Tien Chiu-chin (田秋菫), Yu Jan-daw (余政道), and Chang Hsiu-chen (張秀珍).

In the north, we had these people register: Kao Chien-chih (高建智) in Taipei City-1; Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) in Taipei City-4; Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) in Kaohsiung City-2; Lin Chin-hsing (林進興) in Kaohsiung City-3; Huang Chao-hui (黃昭輝) in Kaohsiung City-4; Kuo Wen-chen (郭玟成) in Kaohsiung City-5; Huang Chien-hui (黃劍輝) and (林淑芬) in Taipei Co.-2; Lin Shu-fenShen Fa-hui (沈發惠) in Taipei Co.-12; Minister of the Interior Yu Cheng-hsien (余政憲) in Kaohsiung Co.-2; Kuo Jung-chung (郭榮宗) in Taoyuan-2; Hsieh Hsin-ni (謝欣霓) in Taichung Co.-3; and Kuo Chun-ming (郭俊銘) in Taichung Co.-5.

In the south, registrees include: Lin Yun-sheng (林耘生) in Nantou Co.-2; Chen Hsien-chung (陳憲中) in Yunlin-1; Yeh Yi-ching (葉宜津) and Cheng Kuo-chung (鄭國忠) in Tainan Co.-1; Hou Shui-sheng (侯水盛) and Huang Wei-cher (黃偉哲) in Tainan Co.-2; Yu Cheng-hsien (余政憲) in Kaohsiung Co.-2; Chen Chi-yu (陳啟昱) in Kaohsiung Co.-3; County Councilor Chen Huei-wen (陳慧文) and Legislator Lin Tai-hua (林岱樺) in Kaohsiung Co.-4; Cheng Tsao-min (鄭朝明) in Pingtung-1; and Pan Meng-an (潘孟安) in Pingtung-3; Lu Po-chi (盧博基) in Hualien Co.; Michael Chai (蔡明憲) in Taitung City; Tang Bi-a (唐碧娥) in Tainan City-1; and Lai Ching-te (賴清德) in Tainan City-2.

Musings on Wang

Over at The View from Taiwan, Michael quotes a recent Wang Jin-pyng statement that caught my eye:

Wang said that a Ma-Wang ticket would not be a threat to the DPP because the DPP has prepared itself for beating Ma in next year's presidential election. "

Only a presidential ticket led by a pro-localization candidate can help the KMT win the election," Wang said, without elaborating.

I think that's one of the first times Wang has specifically pointed to himself as part of the pro-localization faction (本土派). In the past, I think he has avoided taking the label. But this is very good news in my mind, as it confirms what I've always hoped, which is that Wang = Lee Teng-hui II, and he's preparing to make something happen.

I even found a quotation from an interview in the past where Wang denies being part of the pro-localization faction:

記者：海外讀者對您有些看法，如認為您是李登輝的人，「藍皮綠骨」等等，您有什麼回應？

　王：由於我是台灣土生土長的政治人物，所以就被人稱作「本土派」，其實我是「全民派」。台灣人民都 是我服務跟奉獻的對象，也是我要爭取的對象，我從來沒有認為「本土」與否。「本土」與否是別人的看法。我在立法院所做的工作是「全國性」、全面性的。我是 不分族群、階層的，所以我是「全民派」不是「本土派」。

I think the most Wang-friendly and likely scenario goes something like this: Ma runs for president, Wang waits it out; Ma looses the race, Wang becomes default KMT leader; Wang takes localization reform steps after the election in the name of putting the KMT in a position to win.

On the other hand, Wang could get squeezed out if he doesn't go for the KMT chairmanship, or if he is so tough on running that he doesn't even take a VP slot.

If I were him, I'd bet on one more KMT loss in 2008 and take the reigns from there.

Wu says Wang should take chairmanship, leave presidency to Ma

Acting KMT chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) suggested Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) run for party chairman and leave the presidential nominee seat to Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).

This suggestion solves nothing, as Wang has shown less interest in the chairmanship than Wu Poh-hisung himself. Even Honorary Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) tried to encourage Wang to take the deal, but to no avail.

Wu offers Wang Jin-pyng a trade (Taipei Times)

Election roundup (03/05)

Okay. Here's the roundup for the day.

• The DPP will allow people interested in running for legislative seats to say what seat they want in 46 districts first. The party will still decide the 27 more difficult districts through it's five-man committee, and must consider TSU strength in places like Danshui or Keelung. Those districts that will be decided by the committee include some in Taoyuan, Nantou, Changhua, and Taichung.
• DPP whip Ker Chien-ming has also announced he will run as an at-large member, not for a particular seat, and Cheng Hung-huei will run for the Hsinchu city council.
  

• China is reacting negatively to the new "Four yesses and one no" policy put out by A-bian yesterday when he said "Taiwan will say yes to independence," "Taiwan will be correctly named, Taiwan will have a new constitution, Taiwan will develop. There is no left-right political axis in Taiwan, just the question of independence or assimilation."
• Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing has reminded everyone that the "Anti-succession law" is not just for show. The scholars (whichever ones theya re) in Taiwan figure everyone will just understand it is election rhetoric and A-bian can't make good on the promises without KMT support anyway, so they'll be willing to keep the situation contained. A-bian's guys are sticking to the guns, insisting Taiwan and China do not overlap. The KMT is getting ready to shoot themselves over the issue.

• Wang Jin-pyng has not ruled out running independently, and some of this guys hinted it was a possibility today. There are all kinds of rumors about how Wang, Ma and Lien are all interacting, but I'm only interested in seeing what actually happens.

立委初選 林佳龍：四十六個選區先開放登記

（中央社記者郝雪卿台中市四日電）民進黨立委初選程序即將陸續展開，民進黨秘書長林佳龍今天表示，經過黨內討論後，第一階段先開放四十六個選區讓有意參選同志自由登記，其餘二十七個選區因涉及內部策略考量將列為第二階段辦理，而對於桃園、南投、彰化等有同志相持不下的縣市，黨中央已展開協調並已有腹案。

柯建銘轉戰不分區　鄭宏輝參選竹市立委 　

（中央社記者黃彥瑜新竹市三日電）民主進步黨立法院黨團總召集人柯建銘今天宣佈轉戰不分區立委，新竹市議員鄭宏輝將代表民進黨角逐年底的新竹市立委選舉。柯建銘說，他身為總召，參選對黨團不是好事，而且二○○八總統大選候選人整合，總召責無旁貸，而地方也需要傳承，他呼籲支持他的群眾繼續支持鄭宏輝。

中國外長李肇星：反分裂法不是擺著看的 　

（中央社記者周慧盈北京五日電）陳水扁總統昨天提出「四要一沒有」宣示，中國外交部長李肇星今天在北京回應媒體時指陳總統是「歷史的罪人」，並說中國的「反分裂國家法」不是只擺著看的。

香港媒體並詢問，「會不會因此動用反分裂法？」李肇星回答說，「這是一個很大的法律問題，但反分裂國家法不是只擺在那裡看的。」

四要一沒有　學者：美中應瞭解是選舉語言

（中央社記者顧恆湛台北五日電）總統陳水扁提出要獨立、要新憲等「四要一沒有」主張，是否引發美台關係緊張受到矚目。東吳大學政治系主任羅致政表示，他不認為陳總統是挑戰四不一沒有，美國和中國應該也瞭解陳總統講的是選舉語言，不致於對台美中關係造成影響。

總統提四要一沒有 政院：兩岸互不隸屬

Badly written AFP article

Taiwan's speaker to meet Hu Jintao: report
　

TAIPEI, Feb 22, 2007 (AFP) - Taiwan's parliament speaker, a prospective presidential candidate who favours improved ties with Beijing, will visit China and meet President Hu Jintao in March, it was reported Thursday.

Does anyone not favor improved ties with Beijing? Actually, one could say the KMT as policy favors the three links and maybe great economic integration with China (or maybe greater Taiwanese investment in China). But the DPP would certainly be happy to have improved ties with Beijing.

Wang Jin-pyng, a political heavyweight from the island's leading opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, will meet Hu and speak at two Chinese universities, the China Times said.
Wang told reporters there were "still problems to solve...and the itinerary has not been fixed."
The report followed Wang's comment Wednesday that the independence-leaning policies of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have damaged Taiwan's economy.

That's a little vague of him to say. Fundamentally, the DPP is oriented towards Taiwan-centric policies, and doesn't want any kind of union with China, but why are DPP activities labeled independence-leaning while KMT policies are not labeled pro-unification?

...The China Times said Beijing would extend the same warm welcome to Wang as it did to the island's former opposition leader Lien Chan during his landmark visit in 2005.

They issued a statement agreeing to push for cross-strait talks and seek closer ties in trade, tourism and other areas.

But the improved ties failed to materialise. Instead, Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian has stepped up his pro-independence campaign in what the opposition calls a tactic to divert public attention away from the corruption scandals dogging him and his family.

Well, to be fair, those plans didn't materialize, but it's not all A-bian's fault. Beijing refused to talk to the DPP government about any of those things. All the recent "pro-independence campaign" activities and corruption scandals also took place long after Lien's visit to the mainland. And why is only the KMT's view of this situation discussed, with no mention of various DPP rationales for the campaign?

China still regards Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary, despite their split in 1949 after the civil war.

At least this points out that China has no interest in whether or not Taiwan actually wants unification (it wouldn't really be reunification since the PRC has never controlled Taiwan). But the Taiwanese/Chinese split is not merely a 1949 split. They've had a complicated relationship for a long time.