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.

DPP introduces its new officials at press conference

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday introduced its new officials appointed by DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), including a pair of female directors said to excel at social advocacy, but who have no experience in politics.

DPP Deputy Secretary-General Liao Chin-kuei (廖錦桂) and Department of Women’s Development director Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀) were introduced by DPP Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) at a press conference after the first meeting of party officials under Tsai, who succeeded Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) as party chairperson on Wednesday.