|
2007
Chen’s First Recall Crisis
Chen’s Second
Recall Crisis
Chen Shui-bian and
Embezzlement Charges
~2004 ; 2005 ; 2006
[ News ] [ Papers ]
Taiwan Vice President's
Graft Trial Opens
(AFP, Nov. 20, 2007) The trial of Taiwan
vice president Annette Lu on
corruption and forgery charges for allegedly misusing an expense account
opened. Lu was accused of claiming 5.6 million Taiwan
dollars (174,000 US)
in special expenses using more than 1,000 false receipts from December 2000
to May 2006.
Chen Wins appeal in Kaohsiung
Election Case
(Taiwan News, Nov. 17, 2007) Chen Chu will continue
her tenure as Kaohsiung City Mayor after the Kaohsiung Branch of Taiwan High Court ruled that the 2006
election and its result were valid, overturning the District Court's ruling on
June 15 earlier this year.
Series of Gaffes Puts
Taiwan's Leaders in Spotlight
(Straits Times, Oct. 27, 2007) They do not mince words and rarely hesitate to
speak their minds. But Taiwan's
no-holds-barred politicians have recently come under public scrutiny over a
string of gaffes which has turned the spotlight on the island's 'talkshow' political culture.
High Court Trial Opens for
Taiwan Opposition Presidential Candidate (AFP, Oct. 13, 2007) Taiwan
opposition presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou's
High Court trial for alleged corruption opened Friday, two months after he
was cleared by a lower court. "I have firm confidence in my innocence
and high expectations of the court, especially after I was found not guilty
in the earlier trial," he told reporters.
Taiwan President to Return
as Chair of Ruling Party
(AFP, Oct. 12, 2007) Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian
agreed to return as head of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, pledging
to safeguard the island's sovereignty and lead the party to election victory.
Chen Seeks Esprit de Corp
Among DPP
(China Post, Oct. 8, 2007) President Chen Shui-bian
urged members and supporters of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
to set aside their differences and reunite around the party's core values before
he could announce his decision on retaking the DPP's
helm.
Chen's Appeal over Documents
Rejected
(China Post, Oct. 6, 2007) The Taipei District Court rejected President Chen Shui-bian's attempt to retrieve what he described as
"confidential" documents used in a corruption trial against his
wife Wu Shu-chen. The court ruled that the
materials presented to the trial were not "confidential documents"
concerning national secrets, saying the president was trying to interfere
with the trial by making an "illegal" attempt to get the items
back.
Taiwan's Ruling Party Picks
Chen as New Chairman
(AP, Oct. 4, 2007) A high-ranking committee of Taiwan's independence-leaning ruling party
chose President Chen Shui-bian to be its new chairman. Mr Chen last took the position
as DPP chairman in 2002.
Critic Quits
DPP: 'I'm an Eyesore'
(China Post, Oct. 4, 2007) A
heavyweight quit the ruling Democratic Progressive Party after being what he
said was an "eyesore" for fellow members over his frequent
criticism for the DPP. "I was a good party member, but I have been an
eyesore for others," said former Legislator Shen
Fu-hsiung after sending the DPP a brief note about
the decision to renounce his membership.
Ruling DPP Rejects Radical
Name Change for Taiwan
(Straits
Times, Oct. 1, 2007) Tawian's ruling Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP) approved a resolution to assert the island's status
as a 'normal country' but rejected a more radical proposal to change its
official title.
Taiwan's Ruling Party Passes
Sovereignty Resolution
(AFP,
Oct. 1, 2007) Taiwan's
ruling party approved a resolution underscoring the island's sovereignty and
calling for steps to turn it into a "normal country." The resolution
was the more moderate of two versions put to a congress of the
independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). However, the
resolution is regarded as largely aspirational and
is not expected to have an immediate impact on government policy.
Officials in Chen Case
Granted Immunity
(China
Post, Sep. 29, 2007) The Council of Grand Justices annulled part of a
controversial law to punish officials who refuse to cooperate with a parliamentary
commission in the investigation into a shooting that injured President Chen Shui-bian in 2004.
Chairman of Taiwan's Ruling
Party Quits Abruptly
(Straits
Times, Sep. 28, 2007) The chairman of Taiwan's ruling Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP) officially stepped down, citing disagreement over a
radical proposal to change the island's official title. Mr
Yu's resignation could pave the way for President Chen Shui-bian
to return as party chairman.
DPP Agrees on 'Normal
Country' Resolution
(Taiwan
News, Sep. 27, 2007) The leadership of the governing Democratic Progressive
Party reached consensus on moderate language that dropped explicit reference
to a proposal to change the national moniker to "Taiwan" in a draft
"Resolution for a Normal Country" which will be presented to a
party congress Sunday.
Ma Raises Question of
Standards Used in Probes of Funds
(CNA,
Sep. 23, 2007) The presidential candidate of the opposition Kuomintang, Ma
Ying-jeou, claimed that prosecutors probing alleged
misuses of special allowance funds by Hsieh and Su used different standards
from those probing his case, urging the prosecutors to clearly explain how
and based on which legal procedures they conducted their investigations.
Taiwanese Vice President Indicted
(AP,
Sep. 22, 2007) Taiwanese prosecutors indicted the country's vice president
and the chairman of the ruling party on graft charges, the latest in a series
of scandals to hit the outgoing administration. Prosecutors, however, did not
bring charges against the party's presidential candidate or his vice
presidential running mate, ending an investigation against them.
Taiwan Ruling Party Chairman
Quits After Graft Indictment
(AFP,
Sep. 22, 2007) Taiwan's
ruling party said its chairman had resigned following his indictment on
charges of corruption and forgery. Yu Shyi-kun
resigned as chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
'Red Army' Marks Anniversary
of Protests
(Taipei
Times, Sep. 10, 2007) Surrounding the Chinese character Pi (fart) formed by
300,000 candles, about 2,000 red-clad protesters gathered at Ketagalan Boulevard yesterday to celebrate the one-year
anniversary of the anti-corruption campaign launched to oust President Chen Shui-bian.
Democratic Progressive Party
'Normal Nation' Resolution Completed
(China
Post, Aug. 28, 2007) The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) completed
yesterday the draft of the controversial "normal nation resolution"
as a centerpiece of campaign themes for upcoming elections and to pave the
way for drawing up a new constitution.
Chen Backs DPP 'Normal
Country' Resolution
(Taiwan
News, Aug. 27, 2007) President Chen Shui-bian said
he supported the drive by Democratic Progressive Party Chairman Yu Shyi-kun to secure passage of a programmatic resolution
to promote Taiwan's transformation into a "normal country," but
urged the governing party to rewrite the controversial document, which he
said was "awkwardly written."
Taiwan Prosecutors Appeal Acquittal
of Opposition Leader
(AFP,,
Aug. 19, 2007) Prosecutors in Taiwan
have appealed the acquittal of the main opposition's presidential candidate
Ma Ying-jeou on corruption charges. Ma repeatedly
denied the charges, insisting he acted in exactly the same way as some 6,500
other government chiefs entitled to special expenses.
Chen Shui-bian Tells US to
Stop Changing the Rules
(Taipei
Times, Aug. 16, 2007) President Chen Shui-bian said
it was unfair for the US
to repeatedly change the rules and then blame Taiwan for unwittingly violating
them. "There shouldn't be a red line drawn for Taiwan's democracy," Chen
said.
Taiwan's Ma Acquitted of
Fraud Charge
(Bloomberg,
Aug. 14, 2007) Ma Ying-jeou, the presidential
candidate of Taiwan's
opposition Kuomintang, was cleared by a Taipei District Court today of fraud
charges that could have derailed his campaign for the March 2008 election.
Hsieh Asks Su To Be His
Running Mate
(Taipei
Times, Aug. 13, 2007) Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential
candidate Frank Hsieh, who is visiting Singapore, confirmed that he has
invited former premier Su Tseng-chang to be his
running mate.
Court Won't Subpoena Chen in
Embezzlement Case
(China
Post, Aug. 11, 2007) Judges handling an alleged embezzlement and forgery case
involving first lady Wu Shu-chen and President Chen
Shui-bian's former and present aides ruled not to
subpoena Chen, as requested by the defendants' lawyers.
Chen Voices Fears about
Judiciary's Intervention
(Taipei
Times, July 31, 2007) President Chen Shui-bian expressed
apprehension over the intervention of the judiciary in the upcoming
presidential election as the presidential candidates of both the Democratic
Progressive Party and the Kuomintang (KMT) fight allegations of corruption.
Hsieh Meets with Colin Powell
(CNA,
July 27, 2007) Taiwan's
ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh
met with former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in Washington, D.C.
Wednesday. According to Hsieh, Powell reiterated during the meeting that the U.S. policy remains that Washington
opposes any unilateral action to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. However, Hsieh admitted that there are
differences between Taiwan
and the United States
over the definition of the "status quo."
Hsieh Pans 'Cross-Strait
Common Market' Policy
(Taipei
Times, July 23, 2007) Visiting Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
presidential candidate Frank Hsieh panned a "cross-strait common
market" concept advocated by the Kuomintang (KMT) vice presidential
candidate as "ridiculously unrealistic."
Official Washington Eager to
Size Up Hsieh
(Taipei
Times, July 21, 2007) Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential
candidate Frank Hsieh left for the US
yesterday on a visit that will give him and US officials the chance to size
each other up.
Ma, Hsieh Trade Barbs on
Taiwan History
(Taiwan
News, July 10, 2007) Taiwan's
two major candidates in the upcoming presidential election highlighted
different views of Taiwan's
history of colonial and external rule in their first face-to-face exchange.
Presidential, Legislative
Polls To Be Held on Separate Dates
(Taiwan
News, July 7, 2007) The Central Election Commission has decided to hold two
national elections that are expected to have large impacts on Taiwan's
political situation at different times in the coming year because of the lack
of a consensus among the political parties and the general public.
KMT to Hold Referendum on UN
Bid
(Taipei
Times, June 29, 2007) The Kuomintang (KMT) said it would push for a
referendum on the country's bid to join the UN and other international
organizations under a "practical" name and flexible strategy that
would increase the nation's chances of being accepted in more international
organizations.
Ma Reiterates Mission to
Save Taiwan's Economy
(China
Post, June 26, 2007) Ma unveiled four concrete measures to stimulate Taiwan's
economic development, including: revitalizing the service sector and
traditional industries to create 100,000 more job opportunities; using an
excellent living climate to attract talent from around the world to help
develop Taiwan into a strong economic entity; and building Taiwan as a free
trade area, among others.
KMT Revises Nomination Charter
(Taiwan
News, June 25, 2007) The main opposition Kuomintang revised its party charter
to prevent a potential guilty verdict in an embezzlement trial from blocking
its presidential nominee Ma Ying-jeou's
presidential bid.
Support Surges for Taiwan
Opposition's Presidential Candidate
(Deutsche
Presse-Agentur, June 24, 2007) A China Times poll
of 700 adults showed that support for the KMT party's candidate has risen 8
percentage points to 40 per cent, from 32 per cent in late May. Support for
Frank Hsieh, the ruling DPP party's presidential candidate, remains at about
20 per cent.
Taiwan's Ma Ying-jeou
Chooses Siew as Running Mate
(Bloomberg,
June 23, 2007) Taiwan's
Kuomintang party candidate Ma Ying-jeou announced
Vincent Siew as his running mate for next year's
presidential election. Siew, 68, was premier of Taiwan from
1997 until 2000. Siew founded Cross-Straits Common
Market Foundation, a non- government organization promoting removal of
economic barriers with the mainland.
Kaohsiung Mayoral Race
Invalidated
(Taiwan
News, June 16, 2007) The Kaohsiung District Court
yesterday ruled that the results of last year's Kaohsiung
mayoral race, in which the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's nominee Chen
Chu was elected mayor, should be invalidated.
Judges decided that accusations Chen's camp made regarding Huang Jun-ying, her main rival, on the eve of the election and on
the polling day influenced election results.
KMT Presidential Candidate
Arrives in New Delhi for Visit
(CNA,
June 13, 2007) Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) presidential
candidate Ma Ying-jeou arrived in New Delhi for a
whirlwind two-day visit at the invitation of the Indian government.
Taiwan Candidates Differ on
Chinese Views toward Island
(AP,
June 12, 2007) Taiwan's
presidential candidates pledged Monday to work for better relations with
rival China, but differed
markedly on whether Beijing
would prove receptive to their overtures.
Taiwan Ruling Party to Stir
China with Three Referenda
(Reuters,
June 6, 2007) The ruling political party will attempt three voter referenda
and pursue other reforms to advance the island's independence from China and
rewrite its history, the party chief said.
Wang Rejects Offer to be
Ma's Running Mate
(Straits
Times, June 1, 2007) Ending months of speculation, Taiwan's Parliament
Speaker Wang Jin-pyng formally rejected an offer
from the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) to be its vice-presidential
candidate.
Taipei Mayor in Tit-for-Tat
Renaming of Plaza
(Reuters,
May 23, 2007) In the latest of a string of politically charged name changes, Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin of
the Kuomintang (KMT) is renaming the stretch of road outside President Chen's
office Anti-Corruption
Democracy Plaza.
Ma Ends Islandwide Biking
Trip
(China
Post, May 21, 2007) Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) candidate for the 2008
presidential race Ma Ying-jeou yesterday wound up
his 675-kilometer south-north biking trip after reaching Fu Kuei Cape on the northern tip of the island.
Outcry as Taiwan Renames
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
(AFP,
May 20, 2007) Taiwan renamed the memorial hall for late Nationalist leader
Chiang Kai-shek amid tightened security as protestors demonstrated against
what they said was an attempt to erase his legacy.
DPP Unveils Legislative
Line-Up
(Taipei
Times, May 18, 2007) The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) unveiled its
legislator-at-large line-up yesterday, revealing that three contenders who
have been labeled and boycotted by a group of deep-green supporters as
"DPP bandits" are no longer shoo-ins for the seats.
DPP Task Force to Draft
'Normal Country' Resolution
(Taiwan
News, May 17, 2007) The leading policy-making body of the governing
Democratic Progressive Party yesterday established a seven-person task force
to draft a proposed "normal country" resolution.
DPP to Push 'Normal Nation
Resolution'
(China
Post, May 11, 2007) The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will set up a task
force next week to draw up the ruling party's "normal nation
resolution" in a move to redefine the DPP policy concerning the nation's
status. The "normal nation resolution" is seen by analysts as a
move by DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun to exert pressure
on former Premier Frank Hsieh.
Taiwan Renames Chiang
Memorial Hall
(Straits
Times, May 10, 2007) Taiwan
renamed a memorial hall built for late Kuomintang (KMT) leader Chiang
Kai-shek, the most controversial move in a government campaign to water down
his legacy.
Taiwan Lawmakers Brawl
(AP,
May 9, 2007) Rival lawmakers exchanged punches, climbed on each other's
shoulders and jostled violently for position around the speaker's dais
Tuesday as Taiwan's
Legislature dissolved into chaos over an electoral reform bill.
DPP Heavyweights Rally
Behind Hsieh
(Taiwan
News May 8, 2007) The leadership of the Democratic Progressive Party,
including Vice President Annette Lu, Premier Su Tseng-chang
and DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun, declared their
support for the nomination of former Premier Frank Hsieh as the governing
party's standard-bearer in next year's presidential election.
Hsieh Wins DPP Member
Primary Vote
(Taiwan
News, May 7, 2007) Former Premier Frank Hsieh won a decisive victory in
primary voting by members of the Democratic Progressive Party and appears to
have secured the governing party's nomination in the upcoming presidential
election.
AIT Head Says US Has No Favorite
(Taipei Times, May 4, 2007) American Institute in Taiwan
(AIT) Director Stephen Young said that the US had no preference for any
candidate for next year's presidential election and would continue to work
with the next president.
KMT Nominates Ma to Run for
President
(AFP,
May 3, 2007) Taiwan's
main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) nominated former chairman Ma Ying-jeou to run for the 2008 presidential election.
KMT Lawmakers Sue 102
Cabinet Members over Special Allowance Funds
(CNA, May 2, 2007) A group of opposition
Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers yesterday initiated a lawsuit against 102 former
and incumbent Cabinet members with the Supreme Prosecutors Office, seeking a
probe into their alleged misuse of "special allowance funds" that have
become controversial since former KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou's
indictment in mid-February for the same reason.
KMT, PFP Still Testing
Merger
(Taipei
Times, Apr. 25, 2007) A merger between the Kuomintang (KMT) and People First
Party (PFP) next year can only happen if the two parties cooperate in
nominating candidates for the legislative elections later this year, KMT
Secretary-General Wu Den-yi said.
KMT Paying Price for Helping
Ma
(China
Post, Apr. 23, 2007) The Kuomintang is paying the price for much needed
support in the Legislative Yuan to stall a Democratic Progressive Party-sponsored
bill to stop its former chairman Ma Ying-jeou from
running for president.
Taiwan's Chen Calls for
Unity within Ruling DPP
(AP,
Apr. 21, 2007) Taiwan's President called for unity in the ruling Democratic
Progressive Party, urging the four candidates vying to become its
presidential nominee to stop attacking one another in the face of an
apparently solid opposition.
DPP Wants to Combine
Referendum, Elections
(Taiwan
News, Apr. 17, 2007) The ruling Democratic Progressive Party announced that
the DPP has been striving to put the issues of recovering ill-gotten party
assets and using the name of "Taiwan" to apply for the U.N.
membership to a referendum as well as pushing for a three-way combination of
the presidential election, the legislative election and the referendum.
Taiwan
Opposition Leader on Trial
(BBC,
Apr. 3, 2007) Taiwan opposition leader and presidential hopeful Ma Ying-jeou has gone on trial in a corruption case which could
hit his 2008 hopes.
Wang will
not Participate in Primaries
(China
Post, Apr. 3, 2007) Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng
held a press conference and said that he will not participate in the
Kuomintang presidential primaries, saying that the primaries cannot be a fair
competition as it is tailored for specific individuals.
Ma Says
Conviction Will Not Derail Presidential Bid
(Taiwan
News, Apr. 2, 2007) Former Kuomintang Chairman Ma Ying-jeou
said he would continue his presidential bid even if he is convicted of
embezzlement in his trial set to begin April 3.
KMT
Rallies to Defend Chiang's Contribution
(China
Post, Apr. 1, 2007) The main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) staged a march in
Taipei near the Presidential Office to protest a government campaign
attacking the legacy of late President Chiang Kai-shek.
DPP
Finalizes Design for Primary Poll
(Taipei Times, Mar. 29,
2007) The proposal was designed to exclude voters from the primary poll who
would never vote for the DPP in the presidential election while surveying
pan-green and swing voters.
Presidential Office Replaces
Sun Yat-sen Portrait with a Plant
(China
Post, Mar. 15, 2007) The Presidential Office, in a further move to cut
Taiwan's historical ties to China, has reportedly removed from its premises
all the iconic signs of the nation's founding father, Dr. Sun Yat-sen.
Prosecutors Clear Tainan Mayor
(China
Post, Mar. 13, 2007) Taiwan
prosecutors resolved not to indict incumbent Tainan mayor Hsu Tain-tsair because prosecutors didn't care about how the
mayor utilized those special allowance funds requiring no invoices or
receipts to claim. This was in sharp contrast to the indictment made by Taipei prosecutors
against former Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou.
DPP to Use Exclusionary
Polling System
(Taipei
Times, Mar. 8, 2007) The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said it would
only be polling loyalists and weed out 'light blue' elements for the
legislator-at-large primaries to ensure that the nominees reflect the party's
ideology.
Lu, Su also Faced with Gund Controversies
(China
Post, Mar. 2, 2007) Both Vice President Annette Lu and Premier Su Tseng-chang could face barriers in their presidential bids
following the disclosure of their spending of part of their special expense
allowance on household purchases.
Chen Blasts Chiang Kai-shek
over 228 Role
(Taipei
Times, Feb 27, 2007) Former dictator Chiang Kai-shek was a
"murderer" and the people responsible for the bloody 228 Incident
should stand trial for their crimes, President Chen Shui-bian
said.
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial
Hall Must Go: Chen
(China
Post, Feb. 27, 2007) Calling it a "feudalistic" monstrosity,
President Chen Shui-bian demanded that the Chiang
Kai-shek Memorial Hall, a Taipei
tourist attraction, be abolished.
Opposition Politician Wins
Libel Suit against Taiwan's President
(AFP,
Feb. 16, 2007) James Soong won a libel suit over
President Chen Shui-bian's claims that he had met
secretly with a Chinese official. A Taipei District Court judge ordered Chen
to pay three million Taiwan
dollars in damages and run apologies on the front page of three newspapers.
DPP's 'Four Heavenly Kings'
Face Graft Probe
(Reuters,
Feb. 15, 2007) Four leading members of Taiwan's ruling party, including
Vice-President Annette Lu, will be investigated for corruption, a
prosecutor's office said yesterday, a day after the head of the main
opposition party was charged with graft.
Ma's Popularity Goes Up,
Despite Corruption Indictment
(AFP,
Feb. 14, 2007) Resigned opposition leader Ma Ying-jeou's
popularity has shot up, two surveys said, despite Taiwanese prosecutors
indicting him on corruption charges.
Taiwan Opposition Leader Resigns
(BBC,
Feb. 13, 2007) The leader of Taiwan's
main opposition party has stepped down following an indictment on charges of
corruption. However, he immediately vowed to clear his name and said he would
run in the 2008 presidential election.
Taiwan Opposition Leader
Faces Corruption Charges
(New
York Times, Feb. 13, 2007) Corruption charges were filed against Ma Ying-jeou, the leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party
who has been seen as a leading presidential candidate in 2008.
Ma Affirms Promise to Quit
If Indicted
(Taiwan
News, Feb. 10, 2007) Opposition Kuomintang Chairman Ma Ying-jeou said that he never embezzled any public funds or
used any money that was not his since he began working in the government.
Nevertheless, Ma said, he would resign from the KMT chairmanship if he is
indicted on corruption charges.
DPP to Launch 'Transitional'
Justice Drive
(Taiwan
News, Feb. 7, 2007) The Democratic Progressive Party is expected to approve
today a wide-reaching drive to promote "transitional justice"
through legislative and administrative measures and political campaigns to
redress past human rights violations under the former Kuomintang regime.
DPP Criticized as 'Tampering
with History'
(Taiwan
News, Feb. 7, 2007) The pan-blue opposition parties strongly criticized a
series of efforts made by the ruling party and the government to "disassociate
from Chiang Kai-shek and China,"
saying they were "tampering with history and pandering to voters."
Lee Says Remarks Were
'Distorted' in 'Next' Article
(Taipei
Times, Feb. 5, 2007) Former president Lee Teng-hui
reassured worried supporters that changing the country's name and engineering
a new constitution for Taiwan remain his goals in "making Taiwan a
normal country."
Ma Lays into DPP in CNN
Interview
(Taipei
Times, Feb. 4, 2007) Ma Ying-jeou reiterated the KMT's support for maintaining the status quo and said the
ruling party's independence stance endangered the nation. "We will
maintain the autonomy of the island, maintain our dignity as a sovereignty, but we should improve relations with the
mainland," Ma said.
Ma Admits Graft Allegations
Have Hurt Him
(China
Post, Feb. 4, 2007) Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou
has admitted that the embezzlement allegations against him have hurt his
image and that of the party's. He said the issue concerning his alleged
misuse of the mayor's special expenses involves more than 6,500
administrators in Taiwan
who are also allocated such special expenses for public relations purposes.
TSU Shifting Closer to
Center
(China
Post, Jan. 31, 2007) Friday's inauguration of the new chairman of the Taiwan Solidarity
Union, though a minor party with a small following, signals the beginning of
a sobering process for Taiwan's politics and politicians.
KMT and PFP to Sign Pact for
Year-End Polls
(CNA,
Jan. 22, 2007) The leaders of Taiwan's two largest opposition parties - the
Kuomintang and the People First Party - sign an agreement to provide a
platform for mutual cooperation in fielding candidates in the year-end
legislative election.
Taiwan Firm's Collapse
Sparks Political Uproar
(Straits
Times, Jan. 13, 2007) Taiwan braced itself for a political fallout, days
after the collapse of a prominent family-run conglomerate sparked the
island's biggest financial scandal in recent years.
The North-South
Split is Losing Its Relevance By Lin Cho-shui
(Taipei Times, Nov. 23, 2007) Since the 1990s, southern Taiwan has become a pan-green
political stronghold. As a result, people often believe that support for
Taiwanese independence is far more prevalent in the south. However, this
conception is merely a stereotype.
New Legislative Map Poses
Test for January Vote
(Central News Agency, Nov. 12, 2007) The January 12, 2008 legislative
election will pose the first test of the painstakingly crafted legislative
map, which some candidates complain is full of quirky and uncannily
apportioned political boundaries. As a new "single-member constituency,
two ballots" electoral system will be implemented in the coming
election.
Academic Examines Dynamics
of 2008 Polls
(China
Post, Nov. 2, 2007) In
Chu
Yun-han's
opinion, the 2008 legislative elections have a significance that so
far has been vastly underestimated. "It will institutionalize a
two-party system," he said. "It will provide as true beauty contest
between the Democratic Progressive Party and the Kuomintang." The
winning party, he added, might be able to lock in its political dominance for
a long while.
A Lame Duck Seems to Take Off
(China
Post, Sep. 24, 2007) President Chen Shui-bian is a
lame duck. He has to step down on May 20 next year. The lame duck, however,
seems to be taking off now. He is now the DPP kingmaker in every sense of the
word.
Chen Not Quite Ready for
Quiet Exit from Office
(Strait
Times, Aug. 30, 2007) The countdown to his final year in office may have
already begun, but Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian
has made it clear that he would not be a lame duck in the process. But
showing no sign of backing down, Mr Chen criticized
the US for bowing to
Chinese pressure to rein in Taiwan.
DPP Heavyweights Pull
Together for Unity of Party
(Taipei
Times, Aug. 21, 2007) Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate
Frank Hsieh's three-month search for a running mate seemed to have reached a
satisfactory conclusion when former premier Su Tseng-chang
gave him a nod of approval.
DPP Swings into Top Gear for
Presidential Election
(Straits
Times, Aug. 17, 2007) One day after unveiling its dream team for next year's
presidential election, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) swung
into full election mode for what will likely be Taiwan's most tightly fought
race.
It's a Hsieh-Su Ticket for
DPP in Presidential Race
(Straits
Times, Aug. 16, 2007) Just three months ago, the two men were at each other's
throats trying to win the party's nomination for next year's presidential
race. Now, Taiwan's presidential nominee Frank Hsieh is joining hands with Mr Su Tseng-chang to form the
ruling Democratic Progressive Party's dream team.
Wouldbe Taiwan Leaders Both
Dogged by Legal Woes
(Reuters,
Aug. 4, 2007) Taiwan ruling party's presidential candidate breathed a sigh of
relief after a court acquitted three former subordinates of graft, but the
main opposition contender faces corruption charges and is braced for the
worst.
Frank Hsieh Takes Tough Line
on UN Bid, Cross-Strait Issues in Washington (Taipei Times, July
25, 2007) Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank
Hsieh took a tough line on a number of issues that have found disfavor with
the administration of US President George W. Bush on the eve of his talks
with senior US
officials. Hsieh said he could not promise to retain the "four noes" that President Chen Shui-bian
enunciated in his two inaugural addresses.
Political Fallout Need Not
Bother Chen: Analysts
(Taipei
Times, July 24, 2007) This late in his term in office, the tactic of seeking
compromise no longer plays a significant part as a way for President Chen Shui-bian to ensure the future of his political agenda,
political observers said.
Is Frank Hsieh a Moderate? By David G. Brown
(PacNet Newsletter, Pacific Forum, CSIS, July 5,
2007) Frank Hsieh Chang-ting has been nominated by the Democratic Progressive
Party (DPP) as their presidential candidate. If elected, the prospects for
improved cross-Strait and U.S.-Taiwan relations will hinge on whether he
pursues moderate policies. Hsieh is widely perceived to be a moderate, by
which is usually meant that he takes a pragmatic rather than ideological
approach.
Taiwan's Choices By Philip Bowring
(International Herald Tribune, July 2, 2007) Taiwan is moving toward elections
that may determine if renewed vigor can be breathed into its economy and its
democratic process. Both are currently dominated by inward-looking concerns
and a pettiness which irritate its friends - not least its chief protector,
the United States.
Ma Criticizes Government's
Foreign Policy
(Taiwan
News, June 2, 2007) The ruling government is both incompetent and inefficient
when it comes to foreign affairs, said Kuomintang presidential candidate Ma
Ying-jeou yesterday as he promised that if elected
he would use a "four-E" approach of engagement, economy,
elasticity, and equality, to solve Taiwan's diplomatic hardship if elected
president.
The Pan-Greens Without New
Tide By Chiu Hei-yuan
(Taipei Times, June 1, 2007) The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) former
New Tide faction and the so-called Eleven Bandits for the most part lost in
the party's legislative primaries. Among the losers were many current and
long-time legislators who are good politicians with a fine record.
KMT to Mull Specific Taiwan
Pledge in Party Charter
(Reuters,
May 28, 2007) Taiwan's
main opposition party, which once ruled all of China, will mull a proposal to
amend its charter to underline its commitment to the island as it competes
for Taiwan-identity votes in upcoming elections.
DPP Faction Speaks out
against Bigwigs
(Taiwan
News, May 28, 2007) The party primary of the ruling Democratic Progressive
Party for the year-end legislative elections is already over, but former
members of the disbanded New Tide Faction who have fallen into disfavor are
still incensed about the way they were treated by the party's central
leadership.
The DPP Is Needlessly Making
Its Life Difficult By Lee Wen-chung
(Taipei Times, May 23, 2007) The trend of party members calling reformists
"traitors" in the media and through public announcements is
troubling. This is witnessed and examined by the public and light-green
voters who voted for President Chen Shui-bian and
who now have been excluded from the polls. This name-calling has deflated the
hopes and expectations of many moderate DPP voters.
Chen's Election Cabinet
Taking Shape
(Straits
Times, May 15, 2007) An 'Election Cabinet' is taking shape in Taiwan with
the appointment of a Chen Shui-bian loyalist as the
island's new premier. Mr Chang Chun-hsiung, 68, yesterday became the island's sixth premier
since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) took power seven years ago.
Chen Seen Continuing
Hard-Line PRC Policy
(Associated
Press, May 14, 2007) Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian
is expected to name a loyalist as his new premier this week, a move that will
strengthen the independence-leaning leader's grip on politics during his last
year in office.
Wang and Ma: Less Than Foes,
More Than Friends?
(Taipei Times, May 14,
2007) The fighting between two of the Kuomintang's (KMT) kingpins over the
party's presidential ticket has proved that even the best plans can go awry,
political analysts said.
MOJ Opinion on Special Funds
Ruled Admissible as Evidence
(Taiwan
News, May 9, 2007) The Taipei District Court ruled that a Ministry of Justice
opinion which could prove favorable to former Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou was admissible as evidence in his trial.
Moderate on China to Lead
Taiwan's Independence-Leaning Ruling Party into Polls (Associated Press,
May 8, 2007) For months Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party had been
embroiled in a bitter debate over choosing a standard bearer for the island's
2008 presidential elections, and setting down its policies toward rival
China.
Taiwan Candidates Lose
Hardline Approach By Peter Enav
(Associated Press, Apr. 24, 2007) As Chen Shui-bian's
term as president of Taiwan winds down, so does the island's long-held and
vehement insistence that it is independent from mainland China.
Taiwan
Presidential Hopeful on Trial in, outside Court By Doug Young
(Reuters, Mar. 31, 2007) He goes on trial for corruption on Tuesday and Ma
Ying-jeou's behavior both inside and outside court
could determine whether he remains front-runner to become Taiwan's next
president.
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