ECFA promises not delivered: DPP

DEMOCRACY AT RISK?The DPP said that cross-strait negotiations since the ECFA was signed have affected the economy and put the nation’s democracy at risk
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) has failed to bring promised prosperity for Taiwan and President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration was irresponsible in hastily pushing through the pact, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday on the fourth anniversary of the signing of the cross-strait pact.

Dubbed by international media as a “landmark agreement” upon its signing on June 29, 2009, it was signed without an impact assessment or sector-by-sector analysis, and the negotiation process was not monitored by the legislature, DPP spokesperson Hsu Chia-ching (徐佳青) said in a press release.

TAO visit shows fragility of democracy: symposium

YOUNG AND DISCONTENTED:：During the symposium participants said that the majority of protesters were young people which showed the changing political climate in Taiwan
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Mon, Jun 30, 2014 - Page 1

The recently concluded visit of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍) exposed the danger of the President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) administration’s attempt to merge “two distinctively different civilizations and the fragility of Taiwan’s democracy and civic society,” panelists at a symposium said yesterday.

“Never think that the tragedy of the 228 Incident cannot happen in the 21st century,” retired National Taiwan University professor Kenneth Lin (林向愷) told the symposium, organized by the Taiwan Association of University Professors.

EDITORIAL: Government alienates young, media

Sun, Jun 29, 2014 - Page 8

For any democratically elected administration, it is perhaps neither a smart nor a justified move to be the enemy of young people, who are supposed to be the future of the nation, and the media, the eyes and ears of the people. President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration has been able to achieve both.

During the four-day visit by China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍), the administration used what appeared to be disproportionate state violence against young people who protested the Chinese official’s visit.

Jiang places collective rights over individual ones

By Shih Hsiu-chuan and Chris Wang  /  Staff reporters
Fri, Jun 27, 2014 - Page 1

Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) yesterday sparked further controversy over a raid at the Novotel Hotel at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport by saying that collective rights are of equal importance to an individual’s private rights, including rights to accommodation.

Jiang made the remarks when addressing Aboriginal issues at a press conference at the Executive Yuan held to announce the recognition of Hla’alua and Kanakanavu as the nation’s 15th and 16th indigenous groups.

CROSSING THE STRAIT: Ma slams service pact critics, DPP in interview

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Fri, Jun 27, 2014 - Page 3

Those who oppose the cross-strait service trade agreement are in the minority, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said in an interview with English-language magazine Forbes Asia last week, in which he warned that the opposition pose a “major challenge” to the nation’s democracy.

The June 19 interview touched on a wide range of issues, including the divisive service trade pact, national security and the year-end elections. The magazine published an excerpt of the interview online yesterday, with the full version to be published in print on July 21.

CROSSING THE STRAIT: Zhang turning deaf ear to ‘real’ Taiwanese: TSU

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍) is not hearing “the true voices of Taiwanese” as he tours the nation, but rather those of pro-China businesspeople and of Chinese spouses and students living in Taiwan, the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) said yesterday.

Prior to leaving on his first trip to Taiwan, Zhang said he wanted to hear what the nation’s citizens have to say, in particular those who Beijing has dubbed the “three middles and the youth (三中一青)” — residents of central and southern Taiwan; middle and low-income families; small and medium-sized enterprises; and young people.

Tsai denies DPP plans to dump Yu Shyi-kun

‘IRREPLACEABLE’:Tsai cited Yu’s experience as premier and Yilan County commissioner as he readies to face the DPP’s toughest opponent in Mayor Eric Chu
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday campaigned for the party’s New Taipei City mayoral candidate, Yu Shyi-kun, denying rumors that Yu would eventually be replaced.

“The election will be a challenge for us, but we are determined to achieve the best results,” Tsai said at a breakfast meeting in the city’s Banciao District (板橋) yesterday morning, a day after Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) announced his decision to run for re-election.

Police evicted suspected protesters from hotel: DPP

By Chris Wang and Alison Hsiao  /  Staff reporters
Thu, Jun 26, 2014 - Page 3

Opposition parties yesterday accused the National Security Bureau (NSB) and the police of breaking into a hotel room near Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to expel people they suspected would protest against China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍), saying the act was a serious violation of human rights and an abuse of power.

Members of Democracy Tautin who checked into room No. 649 of the Novotel Hotel near the airport accused the bureau and the police of breaking into their room without a search warrant yesterday morning and ordering them to leave prior to the Zhang’s arrival.

Activists outraged over raid at hotel

CHINA OFFICIAL VISITS:：Activists said that they were deprived of their freedom and told to vacate their rooms at the Novotel just because Zhang Zhijun was visiting
By Loa Iok-sin  /  Staff reporter
Thu, Jun 26, 2014 - Page 1

Activists yesterday accused the government of abuse of power after a group of “unidentified people” charged into their rooms at the Novotel in Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and demanded that they move out before China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍) was to meet his Taiwanese counterpart, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦), at the hotel.

Rights activist and attorney Lai Chung-chiang (賴中強) condemned the government and Novotel over the hotel’s treatment of him as a guest.

EDITORIAL: Shame of two-faced Ma’s legacy

Tue, Jun 24, 2014 - Page 8

Six years after President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) entered office, Taiwanese have realized that Ma has a bizarre sense of justice, historical understanding and foreign policy direction, as well as a distorted national pride.

In a long list of diplomatic incidents during the past six years, the embattled president has always tried to deflect public scrutiny about his weaknesses and incompetence in domestic affairs by resorting to hawkish positions and disproportionate measures against other countries.

DPP supports HK reform

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday urged Beijing to respect the result of an ongoing “illegal” referendum on democratic reform, that has drawn nearly 650,000 votes since it opened online, as it voiced support for Hong Kongers’ aspiration for democracy and reform. “As the referendum is ongoing, we think that more people will cast their votes. This has been a victory for all Hong Kongers. We call for Beijing to respect the result and Hong Kongers’ expression of their ideals in a peaceful and rational manner,” Department of China Affairs director Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟) said. The DPP has been watching the situation in Hong Kong closely, not only because Taiwan paid a dear price en route to attaining democracy but also because democracy, human rights and liberty are universal values, Chao said.

SMEs, innovation likely economic drivers: Tsai

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and innovation — not large corporations and capitalists — are what should drive Taiwan’s next-generation economy, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said in an interview published online yesterday, warning that the nation’s economic development can not afford to favor the rich and the powerful anymore.

In an interview with the Chinese-language Common Wealth magazine that touched upon the issues of the proposed free economic pilot zones and free trade, Tsai highlighted the urgency for Taiwan to develop a new economic model for prosperity and President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration’s fallacious economic policy scheme.

Deport Zhang if mentions ‘one China’: DPP caucus

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

If China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍) mentions the “one China framework” and says Taiwan’s future should be decided by all Chinese people in his four-day visit to Taiwan, the government should immediately deport him, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus said yesterday.

As Zhang’s visit between tomorrow and Saturday is to mark the first visit of a Chinese official in their official capacity, the DPP and pan-green camp supporters were closely watching his itinerary, potential moves and the political implication of his trip.

National Palace Museum exhibit on after apology

‘REGRETTABLE’:：The Tokyo National Museum apologized, which the National Palace Museum accepted, while rebutting criticism that it and MOFA had been slow to act
By Shelley Shan and Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Tue, Jun 24, 2014 - Page 1

The Tokyo National Museum yesterday apologized over the controversy generated by some of the posters promoting the exhibition of collections from the National Palace Museum in Taipei that omitted the word “national” in reference to the official title of the Taiwanese museum, an act that was perceived by the government to have undermined the nation’s dignity.

Tokyo National Museum director Masami Zeniya said at a press conference yesterday afternoon that the museum had recognized the mistake and quickly addressed it.

Pan-green New Taipei mayoral hopefuls debate

‘NUMBERS GAME’:Yu Shyi-kun focused on his ‘1453’ social housing policy, while Lin Chi-chia touted his ‘54321’ platform. They are to debate again on Wednesday
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Following the pattern of pan-green camp integration in Taipei, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) New Taipei City mayoral hopeful Yu Shyi-kun (游錫?) and Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) hopeful Lin Chih-chia (林志嘉) engaged in a televised debate yesterday ahead of a public opinion poll on Thursday to determine the final pan-green camp candidate in the November election.

The contenders talked about their vision for the nation’s largest constituency, which has a population of 3.96 million, in a televised debate yesterday at Formosa Television in the last push of their campaigns before the poll, where they would each be matched against New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫).

Pro-independence groups oppose TAO official’s tour

‘DOUBLE STANDARD’:The groups said Zhang Zhijun’s visit comes at a bad time after the TAO’s recent remarks, and Ma was weak on China, but hawkish on other nations
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Pro-independence groups yesterday said that they opposed the upcoming nationwide “inspection tour” by China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍) and called for President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to stop applying “double standards” to Taiwan’s engagement with China compared with other foreign countries.

“We have a three-point statement for recent political development. First, Taiwan’s future should be decided by its 23 million people and no one else. Second, Ma should stop his ‘double standards’ and, third, the itinerary of Zhang’s visit to Taiwan should follow conventional diplomatic practice,” Taiwan Society president Chang Yen-hsien (張炎憲) told a press conference.

Critics link division judge’s axing to Wang decision

‘WARNING’:：Members of the opposition said Chang’s removal was to make an example of her and to warn judges to be involved in Wang Jin-pyng’s second trial
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Sat, Jun 21, 2014 - Page 1

Chang Yu-feng (張瑜鳳), the division chief judge who oversaw a case involving Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) at the Taipei District Court, was removed from the panel of chief judges, sparking speculation yesterday that she was being punished for ruling against the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).

In a Judicial Yuan review of all chief judges on Wednesday, Chang was removed by a seven to four vote due to what the committee said was a “poor performance.” She was the only one who failed to pass the review, which involved 34 judges.

Hualien County Government faces road race questions

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

A lawmaker and a Hualien County Councilor of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday questioned the Hualien County Government over permission it granted for a road race event to a private firm for a maximum of 30 years, saying the move is an abuse of administrative power.

The Executive Yuan’s Public Construction Commission said on June 5 that the county government had violated the principle of proportionality after the county recently allowed a private firm to stage the event for 15 years, with a conditional extension of the contract for another 15 years, DPP Legislator Chen Ting-fei (陳亭妃) and Hualien County Councilor Liu Hsiao-mei (劉曉玫) of the DPP told a press conference.

DPP legislators propose project to help local governments’ finances, development

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers representing “non-special municipality” cities and counties yesterday said they would propose a 10-year, NT$100 billion (US$3.33 billion) project to help local governments’ finances and to close the gap in general development between the six special municipalities and local regions.

The six special municipalities — Taipei City, New Taipei City, Greater Taichung, Greater Tainan, Greater Kaohsiung and Taoyuan County, which is scheduled to be promoted to special municipality status by the end of the year — take up only 30 percent of the nation’s territory, but have created a magnet effect by accounting for more than 70 percent of the population and sucking up most government funding, Pingtung County DPP Legislator Pan Men-an (潘孟安) told a press conference.

Lee Teng-hui favors presidential system of government for Taiwan, report says

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) said he favored presidentialism as the system of government for Taiwan, because a powerful president is more likely to push vital reforms, the Chinese-language Wealth magazine reported.

Asked to choose between the presidential system and parliamentary system, Lee said in an interview with the magazine that while the latter has advantages and is supported by many, the former would better fit Taiwan.

DPP gears up for mayoral battle in northern Taiwan

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday officially confirmed its collaborative partnership with independent Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) in the Taipei mayoral election, putting in place the final piece of the puzzle as the party gears up for the mayoral race in northern Taiwan’s four major constituencies in November.

The party decided against nominating its own candidate and opted to support Ko in Taipei, where the DPP has failed to win since former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) served as mayor from 1994 to 1998.

Detain Keelung speaker: prosecutors

HOUSING TROUBLE:：Wads of cash were found in the speaker’s office during a search, after prosecutors received a tip-off about alleged influence-peddling
By Yu Chao-fu and Sean Lin  /  Staff reporter, with staff writer, and CNA
Thu, Jun 19, 2014 - Page 1

Prosecutors yesterday requested the detention of Keelung City Council Speaker Huang Ching-tai (黃景泰) on suspicion of influence peddling in a number of construction projects.

The prosecution asked the Keelung District Court to grant its request following a marathon questioning session of 12 hours, saying that it was afraid Huang could flee the country or collude with others to the detriment of their case.

The detention hearing was still ongoing at press time last night.

‘Apple Daily’ slams hack attack

UNDER THREAT:：The Next Media Group and a Hong Kong referendum Web site were hacked, presumably by China, but both said they would not bow to attacks on democracy
By Yang Yuan-ting and Jake Chung  /  Staff reporter, with staff writer and Reuters
Thu, Jun 19, 2014 - Page 1

Taiwan’s Apple Daily yesterday issued a statement condemning the hacking of the Next Media Group’s (壹傳媒集團) Web sites earlier yesterday, saying that it was a severe infringement on media liberty and political oppression against Hong Kongers’ efforts toward democracy.

The Apple Daily statement said there was reason to believe that the attacks originated from China and were meant to batter the determination of Hong Kongers to achieve democracy, and to attack the pro-general elections Next Media Group, because the electronic voting system set up to gather support for general elections in Hong Kong had also gone down.

TSU candidate bets Eric Chu to stand for mayor

PRIVATE HOLDINGS:Lin Chih-chia questioned the New Taipei City mayor’s alleged failure to report a shareholding in a company that his father-in-law owns
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫) will run for re-election in the mayoral election in November because he has no other option, Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Secretary-General Lin Chih-chia (林志嘉) — who is also the party’s candidate in the election — told a press conference yesterday.

“I would say [the possibility of Chu running for re-election is] 100 percent. It’s my assessment though — you don’t have to believe me, but time will tell,” Lin said, adding that he had full confidence that he could beat Chu by more than 100,000 votes in the election.

DPP, ex-vice president spar over Ko’s candidacy

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday denied assertions by former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) that the party’s collaboration with independent hopeful Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) in the Taipei mayoral election was a personal decision by DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), saying it was a “collective decision of the party.”

“The decision not to nominate our own candidate in the election was made by the Central Executive Committee and it was a response to people’s expectations. However, we respect [Lu’s] comment,” DPP spokesperson Huang Di-ying (黃帝穎) said.

Minister says give economic pilot zones ‘a fair chance’

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

National Development Council Minister Kuan Chung-min (管中閔) yesterday defended the government’s proposal to establish free economic pilot zones and urged the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to give the policy a “fair chance” to succeed.

In an open letter published by the Chinese-language Apple Daily yesterday, Kuan challenged the view of DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who expressed her concern and opposition to the project in a letter published by the same newspaper on Monday.

Policy for pilot zones faulty: Tsai

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) free economic pilot zones policy is based on faulty logic, which assumes more market opening would lead to economic prosperity, without recognizing the importance of upgrading Taiwan’s industrial structure, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday.

Engaged in a debate in the past two weeks with the Ma administration over the impact of the planned pilot zone project, which looks to serve as a model for business convenience and liberalization, Tsai wrote an open letter, published by the Chinese-language Apple Daily yesterday.

Academics, groups call for new constitutional system

TIME FOR CHANGE?Civic groups said the president has been using nominations for the Examination and Control yuans as a tool to hand out political rewards
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Opposition parties and pro-independence groups yesterday called for the elimination of the Control Yuan and the Examination Yuan, with groups advocating the drafting of a new constitution to better fit the nation’s needs.

As lawmakers are set to review the qualification standards of the nominees for the two yuans this week and next week in the extra legislative session, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) said the two institutions are better off being eliminated.

EDITORIAL: World Cup fever typifies Taiwanese

The great urge to learn everything about soccer during World Cup tournaments has become the norm in Taiwan every four years.

If a visitor was to browse the news, they might assume that the nation’s craze for soccer was similar to that in other parts of the world, going hand-in-hand with a professional soccer league and a couple of star players.

That is not the case. Taiwan ranks 176th among 207 members in the latest FIFA world ranking. It has neither a pro league, nor any soccer stars to speak of. The sport, like many others, has never caught the public’s attention and perhaps nine out of 10 Taiwanese have never watched a non-World Cup soccer game.

DPP tells Ko Wen-je it will support him in poll

PAN-GREEN UNITY:The DPP told Ko it would not nominate its own candidate to run against him, and agreed with the TSU to field a candidate together for New Taipei City
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday made an unofficial commitment to independent Taipei mayoral hopeful Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) that it would not nominate its own candidate in the election and reached an agreement with the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) that only one candidate would represent the pan-green camp in the New Taipei City mayoral election.

DPP Legislator Gao Jyh-peng (高志鵬), who served as convener of a task force for the DPP’s Taipei mayoral primary, issued a joint statement after a two-hour meeting with Ko that the DPP agreed to cooperate with the independent candidate to end the decade-long governance of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in Taipei.

Ko, DPP to discuss campaign details

RUMOR MILLS:As the independent candidate readied his mayoral effort, New Taipei Mayor Eric Chu dismissed reports describing a KMT alliance for a 2016 presidential run
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Independent Taipei mayoral hopeful Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) is scheduled to visit the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) headquarters in Taipei today for a discussion of campaign details after defeating rival contender DPP Legislator Pasuya Yao (姚文智) in a DPP primary on Friday, Ko’s campaign office said.

Meanwhile, New Taipei Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫) said various reports published recently about his possible presidential bid and political moves were “all made up.”

TSU mulls ‘shadowing’ Chinese official

‘LACK OF RESPECT’:The TSU took offense to a remark by a Chinese official saying Taiwan’s future ‘should be decided by all Chinese, including Taiwanese’
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) said yesterday that it did not rule out mobilizing its supporters to “shadow” China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍) during his visit next week, adding that it would demand an apology from the official for what it said was an insulting comment from Beijing.

Zhang’s four-day visit from June 25 to June 28, during which he is to visit New Taipei City, Greater Taichung and Greater Tainan, comes on the heels of TAO spokesperson Fan Liqing’s (范麗青) remarks last week that “Taiwan’s future should be decided by all Chinese people, including Taiwanese.”

Ko wins over Yao in DPP Taipei mayor public poll

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Sat, Jun 14, 2014 - Page 1

National Taiwan University Hospital physician Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday beat Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Pasuya Yao (姚文智) in a public opinion survey and is widely expected to represent the pan-green camp in the Taipei mayoral election in November if the DPP decides not to nominate its own candidate.

A public poll that matched Ko and Yao against Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate and former Taipei EasyCard Corp (悠遊卡公司) chairman Sean Lien (連勝文) was conducted on Thursday night to determine the final pan-green camp candidate.

KMT abuses extra legislative sessions, DPP says

THE ‘NORM’:The KMT has made extra sessions ‘de rigueur,’ and a poll has found Ma’s instructions to his caucus to push through legislation questionable, the DPP said
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) are abusing extra legislative sessions and filling them with controversial agenda items, without including any significant proposals from the opposition, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday.

“The three-week extra session is the 11th since Ma assumed office in May 2008. The KMT has made the extraordinary session an ordinary norm,” DPP Legislator Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) told a press conference yesterday morning as the extra session began.

Ma’s push for trade pact opposed: poll

THINK TANK SURVEY:The Taiwan Brain Trust said its latest poll found 60.5 percent of respondents see themselves as Taiwanese — the highest level in the past five surveys
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

A public opinion poll has found that a majority of respondents disapprove of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) pushing the cross-strait service trade agreement through the legislature and do not understand his free economic pilot zones project.

The latest poll conducted by the pro-independence Taiwan Brain Trust found that 60.2 percent of respondents did not support Ma telling the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus to push for the passage of the controversial trade pact in the extra legislative session that begins tomorrow, the think tank said yesterday.

Independence supporters praise Lai

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Pro-independence advocates yesterday expressed strong support for Greater Tainan Mayor William Lai’s (賴清德) remarks about Taiwanese independence during his recent visit to Shanghai as the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rejected Beijing’s claim that Taiwan’s future should be decided by “all Chinese people, including Taiwanese.”

The DPP’s independence charter and Resolution on Taiwan’s Future were part of the trajectory of Taiwan’s history and removing the charter would not eliminate the aspiration of Taiwanese for independence, Lai told an audience in Shanghai on Friday last week.

Pilot zones not a solution: Tsai

‘OUTDATED’:：A former finance minister said the government’s economic policy seems to be stuck in the 1970s and 1980s, when export processing zones drove GDP growth
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter, in Greater Taichung
Wed, Jun 11, 2014 - Page 3

A mature and open economy like Taiwan should not bank on the establishment of special economic zones to drive economic development, and even if they are necessary, they would be completely different from what President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration has proposed, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday.

“The DPP will demand that the government submit a comprehensive plan and assessment on how the free economic pilot zones would help upgrade Taiwan’s industry and benefit local sectors before agreeing to review the special statute awaiting screening in the legislature. The party does not rule out proposing its own initiative,” Tsai said at the conclusion of the DPP’s two-day policy meeting in Greater Taichung.

DPP tells Beijing to respect HK rights

PAPER TIGER:The party made the call after China’s State Council issued a paper on the limits to the territory’s freedom seen as a warning against a pro-democracy protest
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter with Reuters, HONG KONG

The Chinese government should respect the right of Hong Kongers to enjoy basic liberties and pursue freedoms, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday.

The DPP’s remarks came hours after China warned Hong Kong that there were limits to the territory’s freedom and said that it should adhere strictly to the law ahead of a planned pro-democracy protest that could end up shutting down part of the territory’s Central District.

EDITORIAL: China, not Taiwan, lacks confidence

Tue, Jun 10, 2014 - Page 8

As much as Taiwan craves international attention, sometimes it has found itself in international headlines through no action of its own. More often than not, this has happened because of its neighbor across the Taiwan Strait.

Last week, actress Angelina Jolie drove the Middle Kingdom into a frenzy by telling the Associated Press that she admired director Ang Lee (李安), adding: “I’m not sure if you consider Ang Lee Chinese, he’s Taiwanese, but he does many Chinese-language films with many Chinese artists and actors.”

Lai says Shanghai trip a success

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Greater Tainan Mayor William Lai (賴清德) yesterday described his two-day trip to Shanghai as successful “city diplomacy,” and downplayed his comments about Taiwan independence and a potential presidential bid in 2016.

“Everything I said [in China] was no different than what I have said in Taiwan before. They understood that and they knew the point I was trying to make was seeking common ground and shelving differences,” Lai told a press conference at the Greater Tainan Government.

Pilot zones an ‘empty’ policy, Tsai says

ECONOMIC REVIVAL:The government should concentrate on promoting industrial upgrading and transformation, and developing core industries, the DPP leader said
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter, in Greater Taichung

The government’s free economic pilot zones (FEPZs) project is an “empty” policy that showcases the fundamental error that President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration has made in its move to revive the nation’s economy, Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday in Greater Taichung.

“The FEPZ project could serve as a policy tool and a supplementary measure to stimulate the domestic economy, but it should be goal-oriented and selective,” Tsai said in her opening remarks at a party policy meeting aimed at discussing key agenda for the extra legislative session that begins on Friday.

Premier seeks support for national affairs conference

RESOLUTE:An Executive Yuan spokesperson said the premier hoped the DPP and TSU would be present at the event because it concerns the nation’s economic future
By Shih Hsiu-chuan and Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) is still hoping for a change of heart from opposition leaders on the upcoming national affairs conference on economics and trade, Executive Yuan spokesperson Sun Lih-chyun (孫立群) said yesterday.

The Executive Yuan has tried to contact the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) over possible meetings between Jiang and DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and TSU Chairman Huang Kun-huei (黃昆輝), to persuade them to attend the conference.

DPP lauds Tainan mayor

‘TAIWANESE VOICE’:Democratic Progressive Party members erupted in a chorus of praise in the wake of Greater Tainan Mayor William Lai’s comments in China
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) must seek common ground with Beijing while shelving its differences to achieve closer bilateral engagement, Greater Tainan Mayor William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday.

“Taiwanese have become more suspicious of improving ties amid increasing bilateral exchanges because Beijing has been unable to hear ‘the voice of the other side.’ And that is why the DPP has decided that it must pursue engagement,” Lai said in Greater Tainan.

KMT mayors reject replacement rumors

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), Greater Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) and Taoyuan County Commissioner John Wu (吳志揚) yesterday rejected a media report about the possible replacement of Hu and Wu as candidates in the year-end mayoral and commissioner elections due to their low support rates.

The Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) yesterday reported that the KMT could duplicate the so-called “Chou Hsi-wei (周錫瑋) model” by withdrawing the nomination of Hu, who has been having a tough re-election campaign, and the embattled Wu, who reportedly is considered to have been tainted by association with a snowballing corruption scandal surrounding his former deputy Yeh Shih-wen (葉世文).

DPP faces wide agenda in ‘enlarged policy meeting’

UNIFIED POSITIONS:Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-Wen laid out ambitious goals for a two-day gathering starting today in Greater Taichung
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) opens a two-day meeting today in Greater Taichung to discuss policies and a unified position on a number of agendas, in particular on several cross-strait issues, for the upcoming extra legislative session.

Convened by DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), the “enlarged policy meeting” is to bring together DPP legislators, party officials as well as mayors, and commissioners of DPP-governed administrative zones or their deputies.

DPP spurns Ma’s trade conference to organize its own

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday said that it would not send representatives to the national affairs conference on economics and trade organized by President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration and that it would organize a civic economics conference to address “the real economic issues.”

The government’s national conference focuses only on trade, exports and reliance on China — “relatively old thinking on national economics policy” — and would not address people’s expectations and Taiwan’s economic woes, DPP spokesperson Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) said after the party’s weekly Central Standing Committee (CSC) meeting, the first CSC since DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) assumed the post again.

DPP urges China to address Tiananmen issue, free prisoners

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Chinese government was advised to release all political prisoners and face the bloodstained Tiananmen Square Massacre with respect for human rights so that “the historic wounds would be healed,” the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday on the 25th anniversary of the watershed incident in modern Chinese history.

The shadow of the haunting memory has not gone away after a quarter of century despite China being an emerging global power with great influence over regional and global affairs, DPP Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) told a press conference, at which the party released an official statement on the incident.

China needs tolerance of dissidents: Ma

STRONG CRITICISM:：The DPP said that the president had made a long-overdue comment on China, although he needed to do more in response to Beijing’s actions
By Alison Hsiao and Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Thu, Jun 05, 2014 - Page 3

Beijing displaying a tolerant attitude toward political dissidents is a better way to bridge the psychological divide between the nations on either side of the Taiwan Strait than China’s “yielding benefits” on the economic front, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said yesterday.

Ma made the remark in a written statement issued to reflect on the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre yesterday. He has issued a statement on each of the massacre’s anniversaries since he came into office.

TCU accuses ministry of applying nonexistant rule

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Ministry of the Interior has refused to approve the application of a civic association because the association did not include either “the Republic of China (ROC)” or “Taiwan” in its name, founders of the group said yesterday, adding that they would like the ministry to reject the application.

In its replies to applications submitted by the Taiwan Citizen Union (TCU) on March 31 and April 14, the ministry twice demanded that the organization to revise its name by adding “society” (社, 學會) or “association” (會, 協會, 協進會) as well as either “ROC” or “Taiwan,” TCU cofounder Lin Feng-cheng (林峰正) said on the union’s Facebook page.

DPP could decline national affairs conference invite

JULY FORUM:The party received its invitation last week and the decision on whether to attend is to be made by the DPP’s Central Standing Committee today
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) might decline an invitation to attend a national affairs conference on economics and trade because the conference is unlikely to address the public’s needs or solve the nation’s woes, the party said yesterday.

“The conference is expected to focus only on the cross-strait economic agenda rather than a policy with a global perspective. Neither will it address the public’s call for constitutional reform. So far, we are learning toward not attending [the conference],” DPP spokesperson Huang Di-ying (黃帝穎) told a press conference in Taipei yesterday.

Ma must support Chinese democracy, advocates say

‘HE IS A LIAR’:Activists said although Chinese democracy is crucial for Taiwan’s future, Ma has toned down any criticism when marking the Tiananmen Square Massacre anniversary
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Advocates yesterday called on Taiwanese, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) in particular, to show strong support for China’s democratization on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, saying that China’s democratic movement will be crucial to Taiwan’s future.

“No democratic country in the world would stand on the sidelines as its neighbors abuse human rights. In the case of Taiwan, China’s democratization matters for Taiwan’s future,” Association of Taiwan Students’ Promotion of Chinese Democratization director Henry Kwok (郭豫謙) told a press conference in Taipei.

EDITORIAL: Imperfect cross-strait relations plan

Tue, Jun 03, 2014 - Page 8

The seven senior politicians and academics who make up a self-proclaimed bi-partisan group recently introduced the “broad one China framework,” a one-night sensation that drew attention, but was soon forgotten.

Led by former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Shih Ming-te (施明德), the group included former DPP minister Chen Ming-tung (陳明通), and former National Security Council secretary-general Su Chi (蘇起) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).

Tamkang University professor Andy Chang (張五岳), former DPP legislator Hong Chi-chang (洪奇昌) and a pair of former KMT administration officials, Cheng Chien-jen (程建人) and Chiao Jen-ho (焦仁和), were also in the group.

Ko promises open government

THE DOCTOR IS IN:While his rival for the DPP’s Taipei mayoral candidacy faltered, physician-turned-politician Ko Wen-je exceeded expectations in their first showdown
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Independent aspirant Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday held his own against Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Pasuya Yao (姚文智) in the first of three scheduled debates of the DPP’s second-stage primary for the Taipei mayoral campaign, erasing views that the physician-turned-politician would perform poorly.

The National Taiwan University Hospital physician handled the 60-minute televised debate with poise, laying out six visions for the nation’s capital and declaring that he would be a honest, passionate and responsible mayor if elected in November.

Taoyuan officials’ graft may hit commissioner

Staff writer, with CNA
Mon, Jun 02, 2014 - Page 3

Senior Taoyuan County officials who have been implicated in five corruption and bribery cases over the past three years might deal a severe blow to Taoyuan County Commissioner John Wu’s (吳志揚) re-election bid in November, political observers said.

The county is set to be upgraded to a special municipality in December.

Ma-Xi meeting benefits should be clarified: Tsai

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) needs to clarify to Taiwanese about his intentions and the agenda behind the proposed meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) at the APEC leaders’ meeting in Beijing in November, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday.

“The meeting could be discussed, but the president must explain to Taiwanese the objective for the meeting. Does it serve Taiwanese’s interests or his own?” Tsai said to media on the sidelines of an event in Greater Kaohsiung.

Tiananmen poets launch book ahead of anniversary

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The collected works of more than 100 poets from Taiwan, China and Hong Kong have been published ahead of the 25th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre.

The authors have condemned China’s attempt to erase the brutal event from people’s memories, saying that they intend to use poetry to forever etch the event in history.