DPP leadership debates get off to lukewarm start

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Mon, Apr 30, 2012 - Page 1

The first debate of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairperson election campaign ended without an expected war of words yesterday as candidates barely mentioned crucial issues, such as China policy and party reforms.

The 150-minute televised debate between five candidates, held in Greater Kaohsiung, was the first of three debates for the May 27 vote that will elect a leader for the DPP to a two-year term.

DPP caucus pans vicious campaign against Yeh Yi-jin

By Chris Wang and Shelley Shan  /  Staff reporters
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 - Page 1

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus yesterday condemned what it called a “vicious coordinated attack” on DPP Legislator Yeh Yi-jin (葉宜津) by media subsidiaries of the Want Want China Times Group (旺旺中時集團).

CTiTV, China Television Co (CTV) and the Chinese-language China Times have in the past four days launched non-stop attacks on Yeh after the DPP lawmaker barred Chao Yu-pei (趙育培), special assistant to Want Want China Times Group chairman Tsai Eng-meng (蔡衍明), from speaking on behalf of Tsai at a public hearing.

First DPP chairmanship debate set for tomorrow

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The first of three televised debates for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairperson election will be held tomorrow in Greater Kaohsiung, with China policy and party reform expected to be the focus.

The five candidates will each give opening and closing remarks, with a question-and-answer session when they will be able to ask each other questions. The debate will be televised by Formosa TV from 2pm to 4:30pm.

China policy has been at the center of the DPP’s internal discussions, as well as public commentary with it, since the party’s loss in the Jan. 14 presidential and legislative elections, with almost all the candidates agreeing that the party should seek engagement with Beijing.

Freezing prices has priority over stocks tax: DPP

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The discussion of an electricity price freeze should be higher on President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) priority list than the implementation of a securities capital gains tax, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus said yesterday.

“The increase in electricity prices will affect everyone and every sector, with a huge negative impact on the national economy. That is why we think the government should first discuss a price freeze,” DPP whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) told a press conference.

“Policies should be implemented in order of priority. The DPP says that the price issue should be considered before the securities capital gains tax,” he said.

Ma’s approval rate slumps after fuel, electricity rate hikes

VANISHING APPROVAL:Taiwan Solidarity Union Legislator Lin Shih-chia said Ma’s fall from grace in opinion polls since the election is unprecedented
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) approval rate has fallen 12.5 percentage points, from 38.5 percent to 26 percent, over the past month, following the announcement of fuel and electricity price increases, a survey released yesterday showed.

Only 26 percent of respondents to a poll conducted by the Taiwan Thinktank said they were satisfied with Ma’s performance, while 62.5 percent said they were not happy.

Lee Teng-hui set to embark on second trip to south Taiwan

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) will embark on a second trip to southern Taiwan from May 16 to May 18 after a similar visit last week, an aide of the former president said.

Lee, 89, is scheduled to visit Chiayi County and Greater Tainan in his second trip to local communities after recovering from cancer surgery in November last year, according to Wang Yan-chun (王燕軍), director of Lee’s office.

Hsu lays out China policy for young DPP members

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) would be prepared to seek active engagement with China, but would not change its policies to achieve that goal if he were elected party chairperson next month, former DPP chairperson Hsu Hsin-liang (許信良) said yesterday.

Hsu, one of five candidates running in the May 27 DPP chairperson election, focused on his China policy during a meeting with some of the party’s younger members yesterday.

Ma must take questions: legislator

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) should make a national report and take questions from lawmakers in the legislature because — contrary to what the Presidential Office says — it is constitutional, an opposition lawmaker said yesterday.

Past presidents reported to the now-defunct National Assembly, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Ou-po (陳歐珀) said, adding that former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) also made a report to the assembly and took questions.

US beef ban dependent on OIE report

YOU DECIDE:：Officials said imports of US beef and beef products would only be suspend if the World Organization for Animal Health chose to raise the BSE risk status of the US
By Shelley Shan and Chris Wang  /  Staff reporters
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 - Page 3

The government would only consider banning the import of US beef if the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) raised its risk status in the wake of a new case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, commonly known as mad cow disease) in the US, the Department of Health said yesterday.

Department of Health Minister Chiu Wen-ta (邱文達) made the announcement during a briefing at the legislature’s Health, Environment and Social Welfare Committee on amendments to the Act Governing Food Sanitation (食品衛生管理法) to stipulate a safe level for the feed additive ractopamine in food, as well as related regulations.

Media merger rule changes proposed

TIGHTENING:A DPP lawmaker has proposed banning newspapers and TV stations from investing in cable operators in response to Want Want’s bid to acquire CNS’ TV services
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Media monopolization has become a serious concern in Taiwan, legislators across party lines said yesterday as they proposed to amend laws to tighten regulations concerning media mergers and investments.

The lawmakers, along with academics, also demanded that the government reject a controversial bid by Want Want China Broadband to acquire 11 cable television services owned by China Network Service (CNS), which they said would create a “media monster.”