DPP Newsletter April2013

7/30/2019 DPP Newsletter April2013

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APRIL 2013

PAGE 1

DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS

DPP announces roster list of China AfairsCommittee

On May 1, the DPPs Central Standing

Committee approved the list of members for the

China Affairs Committee.

In the list, members of the committee in-clude: Su Tseng-chang (DPP Chair); You Shyi-

kun (Former Premier); Tsai Ing-Wen (Former

DPP Chair); Ker Chian-ming (DPP Legislative

Caucus Convener); Chen Chu (Greater Kaohsi-

ung Mayor); Lai Ching-teh (Greater Tainan

Mayor); Chiu Yi-ren (Former National Security

Advisor); and Wu Nai-ren (Former DPP

Secretary-General).

Chair Su explained that since the passagelast November 21st of the Guidelines to Estab-

lish the DPPs China Affairs Committee, the

DPP has been actively making preparations to

to plan the committees structure. He further

reported that in the past five months, the DPP

has held more than 17 meetings with more than

200 experts and academics.

At the Central Standing Committee Meeting,

Chair Su said, The international environmentis changing, and China has also faced important

political transformations with a leadership

change from the last decade of leaders, and in

order to understand these new developments,

the DPP will hold its first internal China Affairs

Committee meeting on May 9 to gather ideas

and suggestions. We will then issue to the pub-

lic the DPPs direction and policy towards ex-

changes with China.

Recent announcements to open cross strait

offices

On April 29, the DPP held a major coordination

meeting on the topic of cross strait issues. In-vited were Cross-Strait Agreement Watch Con-

vener Lai Chong-chiang and a group of think

tank experts. Discussions were held about cross

strait trade agreements and exchanges and both

governments recent announcement to open

new offices on each side.

DPPs Director of China Affairs, Mr.

Honigmann Hong, delivered remarks on behalf

of Chair Su, saying that due to the special cir-cumstances surrounding cross strait relations,

establishing offices on both sides is not a simple

issue, and they involve both sides positioning,

Taiwans national security and the political fu-

ture of Taiwan and the influence to its societal

development.

He said that for this reason, if both sides are

going to establish offices, they must be careful

on not to encroach on Taiwans sovereignty andrespect the principle of equal treatment. He fur-

ther emphasized that Taiwans positioning is

key and the process must be transparent, espe-

cially meeting the expectations from Taiwanese

businessmen and society in general.

Mr. Hong noted that Chair Su has expressed

concerns regarding the safety of Taiwanese in

China, which is why same access to human

rights protection from consular offices in othercountries must be ensured in the new offices.


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PAGE 2

He said that Chair Su has also requested the

DPPs Legislative Caucus to push for Taiwanese

people to be able to have legal assistance and the

right to meet with Taiwanese officials if faced

with detention and imprisonment in China.

Mr. Hong added that Chair Su has appealed

President Mas administration to ensure national

and political security when establishing cross

strait offices as well as conduct appraisals on the

impact that this would bring to society and to

Taiwans economy.

He said Chair Su has also urged President Ma

to discuss with the public and with opposition

parties and allow for the legislative branch to do

its job in supervising the process. He lastly added

that it is important to respect the principles of:

not signing for the sake of signing, not rushing to

a deadline and not let ourselves be mistreated,

pursuing to the utmost the interests of the Tai-

wanese people.

DPP plans to implement reform in partymembership system

DPP Chair Su Tseng-chang announced on April

29 that the party will set out a series of reform in

its membership system. He introduced a major

change in reviewing party membership, whichformerly was conducted through paper review, but

he said that now will be done in a more substantive

format including personal interviews, not allowing

members with criminal backgrounds, and submit-

ting regular reports to the Central Standing Com-

mittee.

Chair Su said he has directed chairs of party

branches to coordinate with the party headquarters

to conduct application reviews, which will also gothrough review by the Central Standing Commit-

tee. He said there is a proposal to the Committee

on allowing criminal checks and whether the same

members have also joined other political parties.

We founded the party 26 years ago, and in

these 26 years, the DPP has always persisted in

being a peoples party, he said.

Even though the party has allowed easy appli-cation to party membership to allow more people

from different aspects of society to join, he said

that now facing with abnormalities in party appli-

cations, the DPP has immediately set out to reform

the membership system.

He added that firstly, the DPP will continue up-

holding to the principle of being a peoples party,

allowing any kinds of people to join the party, but

they must adhere to its constitution. He said that if

some peoples motives in joining the party is to

interfere with the partys development, destroying

its image, or causing problems, all these will not

be welcomed.

In regards to recent abnormalities in party

membership applications, he said that the DPP

Headquarters will conduct a thorough investiga-

tion, including conducting panel interviews with

the application. After the passage of the proposal

at the next Central Standing Committee, the DPP

will also implement a series of disallowing people

with criminal backgrounds to join the party.


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KMT must do the right thing in ensuringnuclear safety for Taiwan

On April 12, while discussing the DPPs proposal

to change the agenda of the Legislative Yuans

general assembly to completely halt construction

on the Fourth Nuclear Plant, DPP Chair Su Tseng-

chang said that the DPP is not only answering to

the worlds trends and the wishes of the Taiwanese

people, but it is also following the interpretations

of the constitution. He appealed to the KMT to let

its legislators join and fulfill the peoples expecta-

tions so that society will see who is representing

the people.

Chair Su added that nuclear disasters such asthose that occurred in Three-Mile Island, Cherno-

byl and Fukushima, have made it evident that even

the most advanced technology cannot guarantee

nuclear safety. He said that just the opposite, nu-

clear disasters have grown in magnitude and is

drawing closer to home. While Taiwan finds the

Fukushima Accident particularly disturbing, other

countries have also tended toward stopping the

construction of nuclear power plants and the use of

nuclear power, he said.

This is the world and Taiwan coming to an

awareness, he said.

Chair Su further demanded that the Ma govern-

ment show the same awareness and do the right

thing. According to Chair Su, he said the since the

general public is clearly against the Fourth Nuclear

Power Plant, the government should quickly turn to

focus on the economic issues.

He cited the DPPs 345 proposal, an eco-

nomic goal, whose target average income growth

rate is above three percent, the unemployment ratebelow four percent, and the economic growth rate

above 5 percent. He also pointed out dire issues

such as national pension reforms and education

reforms, among others.

He said reforms on the economy and many sys-

tems require immediate collaboration between rul-

ing and opposition parties. Hence, the DPP appeals

the KMT government to allow its legislators to

speak out for the people instead of continuing to


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...ensuring nuclear safety for Taiwan

waste time and resources on a high-threshold refer-

endum, he said.

Other reasons he gave was that halting construction

on the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant will also free

the industry from sole reliance on nuclear power,

bringing Taiwan to become a more

environmentally-friendly place. He said he hoped

the Legislative Yuan would live up to its role as the

highest representative for the peoples will and that

it can make their progressive vision become a real-

ity.

At the meeting, DPP Legislative Caucus Convener

Ker Chien-ming was also present. He said that the

DPP has proposed to first discuss halting construc-

tion on the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant based on

Provision 63 of the Constitution, however, the

KMT has intentionally misinterpreted the constitu-

tion, claiming that only the executive branch was

empowered to do so.

Convener Ker criticized the KMT stance as breach-

ing the duties of the countrys legislative powers.

He further pointed out that with seventy percent of

the people against the construction of the plant, its

time for the issue to be settled.

Nuclear-generated electricity makes up only 5.5

percent of electricity use in Taiwan. Convener Ker

said that opening the electricity market will solve

shortage problems in electricity supply.


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Japan political delegation visits DPP Head-quarters

Mr. Nobuo Kishi, Japans Liberal Democratic

Party Member of the House of Councillors, who is

also the younger brother of current Japan Prime

Minister Shinzo Abe, led a delegation to Taiwan

comprised of Japanese youth politicians with the

purpose of holding economic and cultural ex-

changes between both countries.

On April 30, they visited the DPP Headquarters,

and were greeted by Chair Su Tseng-chang as well

as DPP Legislative Convener Ker Chian-ming, and

legislators Chen Ming-wen, Bikhim Hsiao and Wu

Ping-rui, who were part of the Taiwan delegation

visit to Japan in February. Also present at the meet-

ing were Koh

Se-kai and

Luo Fu-

chuan, for-

mer Taiwan

representa-

tives to Ja-

pan.

Chair Su

first thanked

the delega-

tion for tak-

ing time out

of the busy

schedule tomeet them in

Japan at the

breakfast ex-

change in February. During that meeting, Chair Su

mentioned two accomplishments by the efforts

from both sides, which were sending a Taiwan rep-

resentative to the 311 second anniversary remem-

brance of the Japanese tsunami disaster and the

agreements achieved in fisheries rights. At the same

time, Chair Su also congratulated the Liberal

Democratic Party for winning a successful by-

election at Yamaguchi Prefecture on April 28.

Councillor Kishi in turn expressed his apprecia-

tion to the Taiwanese people for their large amount

of contributions during the 311 tsunami disaster,

expressing regret that the Taiwanese government at

that time didnt receive enough recognition from

Japan. He said Japans government was able to ex-

press Japans appreciation to the Taiwanese people

in the 2nd anniversary commemoration this year.

Similarly, he said he warmly welcomed the accom-

plishment of signing fisheries agreements with

Taiwan this year under his governments leader-

ship.

During the ex-

change this time,

DPP legislators

and members of

the Japanese

delegation, repre-

senting youth

from the Liberal

Democratic Party,

discussed the

strong relation-

ship between

members of Ja-pans Diet and

legislators from

the Legislative

Yuan. Chair Su said he looked forward to extending

the relationship further in the future.

Mr. Yohei Matsumoto, member of the House of

Representative in Japan and also Director of the

Department of Youth Affairs of the Liberal Demo-

cratic Party, also updated Chair Su about their plans


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The Ministry of Justice abruptly moved President

Chen Shui-bian on April 19 from Taipei Veterans

General Hospital to Taichungs prison Pei Teh

Hospital. This transfer was made without the

knowledge of President Chens relatives. The

Ministry of Justice has been criticized for this re-

cent handling of his treatment in prison and dis-

regard for his health conditions.

DPP Deputy Secretary-General Lee Chun-Yeeconfirmed that a report drafted by the Taipei Vet-

erans General Hospital shows the former presi-

dent's health status as poor. He has been diag-

nosed by medical experts with severe depression,

sleep apnea, non-typical Parkinsons disease,

speech disorders and mild cerebral atrophy. All

these, the DPP believes, show sufficient reasonsto grant President Chen a medical parole and in

line with human rights treatment for a democratic

country like Taiwan.

The Ma Administration's hasty decision thismorning regarding the former president's health

severely violates both the hospital's recommenda-

tions as well as the former president's human

rights, Lee said.

Mr. Lee said that the report by the Taipei Vet-erans General Hospital clearly indicates the for-

mer president's health as very poor and that spe-

cial medical care arrangements are required. The

administration of the current president shows ex-

treme disrespect to the medical experts of the

Taipei Veterans General Hospital. As a result, the

DPP calls on the Ma Administration to set aside

politics and grant President Chen a medical re-

lease.

Mr. Lee explained that the polls show wellover half to sixty percent of the public believe

President Chen should be granted a medical re-

lease. The DPP is thus asking the DPP Legislative

Caucus to simply appease the public's wishes.

Mr. Lee further said the Ministry of Justicemust explain why it distrusts the medical report

concluded by respected experts. Such disregard

greatly obstructs upon the duties of medical pro-

fessionals. Mr. Lee said the DPP suspects if the

possibility of a third party has become involved

in this decision making, inserting political ma-

nipulation in the poor handling of President

Chens conditions. Consequently, the DPP Legis-

lative Caucus will unanimously continue to pressthe Executive Branch on these issues, he con-

cluded.

DPP denounces governments recenttreatment of President Chens health con-

ditions


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PAGE 7

to organize a youth training camp in Taiwan this

coming July.

As the Ministry of Education announced a regu-

lar adjustment for regular college tuition and fees,

implementing an increase of as much as six per-

cent, the DPPs Department of Youth Development

(Youth Department) declared catastrophic what

the ministry deems as an instant relief to an over-

whelmed higher education system.

Youth Department Director, Mr. Chang Chi-

chang, said in a press conference on April 9 that

recent surveys about student loans indicate that

most student loan applicants come from low-

income families, with many even earning below a

monthly income of NT$30,000. The total national

sum of student loans has reached an all-time high

of approximately NTD30 billion, he reported.

Mr. Chang pointed out that the current level of

tuition and fees has already forced young students

to live with the burden of carrying debt at an early

age, and increasing this new increase would in-

crease student worries and create more social prob-

lems. He criticized what the ministry calls Helping

the Disadvantaged Program has become in reality

forcing low-income students to fall into a vicious

cycle.

At the press conference, Mr. Chou You-shiu,

Youth Departments Deputy Director, also cited sta-

tistics announced by the Directorate-General of

Budget, Accounting and Statistics of the Executive

Yuan, showing that this February, there was a na-

tional unemploy-

ment rate of 4.24

percent and a still

higher 12.99 per-

cent among youth.

The most cur-

rent survey of the

salary ranges of

young people bythe Council of La-

bor Affairs also

shows that the av-

erage pay of the

age group between

15 to 29 years-old

was in the where-

abouts of

NTD$27,425, the

lowest figures inthe past seven

years, Mr. Chou

Taiwans Ministry of Education announcesraising tuition fees, DPP opposes increas-

ing debt burden on youth


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PAGE 8

said. Even worse is that as many as 64 percent of

young people, more than 1 million, are paid under

30,000 every month.

Mr. Chou said the Ma government is responsiblefor adding worries to young people by high tuition

fees and loans while they also face high unem-

ployment and low income after they graduate. He

said it is not sensible to use economic growth as a

reason to raise tuition because this cannot be trans-

lated to better lives for the general public.

The Ministry of Education has organized a spe-

cialized committee of 20 members to tackle the tui-

tion issue, with only two student representatives

involved, and this structure lacks a fair balance ac-

cording to Mr. Chang. He further noted that the

ministry has decided the implementation program

without taking into account the students sugges-

tions, making the committee exactly as the students

have labeled as a mere formality.

Since education is the hope for the underprivi-

leged, implementing high tuition as a quick fix to

higher education issues does not assist them in

gaining better opportunities ahead, he said.

On behalf of the youth, the DPP appealed the

current government to engage in an open discussion

between the Ministry of Education and students as

well as parents in order to have a transparent

decision-making process.

DEMOCRACY &

PROGRESS

PUBLISHED BY:

Department of InternationalAffairs DemocraticProgressive Party

9F, No. 30, Pei-Ping EastRoad, Taipei, Taiwan

Tel: 886-2-2392-9989 ext. 306

Fax: 886-2-2393-0342

Email: [email protected]

Website:

http://www.dpp.org.tw
http://www.dpp.org.tw/http://www.dpp.org.tw/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

DPP Newsletter April2013

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