Has anyone got any ideas about what Chen Shui-bian is going to say on the 20th at his inauguration? Or what he should say?
In 2000, the main focus seemed to be on what he wouldn’t do (his ‘five noes’) - which, while it may be pragmatic, is a pretty negative way of starting a presidency. I assume this time aroung, he’ll focus on plans for a new constitution, which gives him a bit more leeway to be positive about what he wants to acheive over the next four years. Of course, what he hopes that the new constitution will contain could cover a wide range issues.
Personally, I think he should spend as little time as possible focusing on China & international relations, and spend as much as possible on how he plans to improve things internally in Taiwan.
Incidentally, do the ‘five noes’ promises he made last time just apply to his first term, or do they cover his 2nd term too? The China Post seems to think he has to renew them:
I think it would be sensible for him to reiterate them, but I don’t see why he has to. Promises made at the start of a presidency would only cover that term wouldn’t they?
Three Links. He’s going to announce that he’ll implement them at some unspecified but soon time.
He’ll announce a major economic stimulus package, or repackage an existing one.
There will be more unspecific and silly talk about the Green Silicon Island, which will promptly be forgotten in the next minute. Anybody remember APROC?
Call for increased investments in renewable energy.
He’ll appoint Mod Lang and Maoman to the Minister-without-portfolio positions.
I hope he slams the KMT/PFP and the PRC seeing that they will all be listening and criticizing his every word. He should continuously praise Lee Teng Hui and say lots of other things which annoy the Pan-Blue/PRC factions. That would be hilarious.
From this day on, the official language of Taiwan will be Swedish. Silence! In addition to that, all citizens will be required to change their underwear every half-hour. Underwear will be worn on the outside so we can check. Furthermore, all children under 16 years old are now… 16 years old!
Friends, omens, countrymen! Lend me your cellphones!
No, seriously, folks, I stand here before you today to tell you in one loud uninterrupted burp that I stand here before you today to tell the world that we stand here today before the world to tell China that we stand here today to stand up for Taiwan … and the rest is history.
Thank you and hold the pickle!*
*HINT: hidden euphemism stolen from STUCK ON YOU movie by the O’Reilly brothers
Overstating it a bit aren’t you? I’d agree it’s the sternest warning this week, but it’s hardly any different to about 5 or 6 that I can remember this year. I’m getting thouroughly sick of hearing them going on about “not caring what will happen to the Olympics”.
Well I guess you’ll find out in 24 hours. I don’t for a moment believe he’ll change anything because of PRC threats.
As usual, I am worried about riots on Thursday, violent KMT/PLP (People Last Party) riots. As you remember, I predicted riots one day before the election, and sure enough, they occurred. And once again, I am getting vibes from my sources in the underground, moles actually, that some pretty scary riots may very well erupt tomorrow as the KMT protesters sneakily move from the KMT building and the Sun Yat Sen Hall over to the Presidential Office area. And as usual, I hope I am very very wrong, as I was on SARS and everything else I have ever predicted.
[quote]Blind singer Hsiao Huang-chi and Puyuma
tribeswoman Samingad will lead the singing of the national anthem at the inauguration ceremony slated for Thursday.
Hsiao, 28 and blind since birth, is an international prizewinning judo expert.
Samingad, a girl from the aboriginal Puyuma tribe, has “a voice
from heaven.” Samingad said she will wear white attire, modified
from traditional Puyuma dress and made by her mother,
for tomorrow’s performance. [/quote]
IS this true, the US leaked Chen’s speech to China? The only reference I have seen is in the China Post (sic).
“Another DPP lawmaker, William Lai, said Chen has already allowed the United States to review his speech and that Washington leaked the text to China. Lai said this explained an angry statement released by Beijing earlier this week, warning that China would crush any moves toward independence.”
If America really did leak Chen’s speech, how, why, when – and that arrogant country [USA] should go sit in the corner with a dunce hat tomorrow, if true. Anyone know more details. Seems like a major story…
If the USA leaked the speech to China it probably had its reasons and we should respect that because at the end of the day, it is the USA that guarantees the security of Taiwan.
Why doesn’t Taiwan just join the USA anyway? There are a lot of categories beneath “statehood” per se . . . . . so you wouldn’t have to be a state. As I know, none of the people resident in overseas territories of the USA have to pay federal income tax, so that would be a godsend as far as I am concerned. And with the US Defense Department taking care of Taiwan’s defensive needs directly, the “Ministry of National Defense” could be eliminated, and Taiwan would enjoy budget savings of TRILLIONS OF NT$ every year!!
JOIN THE USA! . . . . We should start a movement or something . . . . .
P.S. (1) As far as I can see, the PRC is just continually stressing that Taiwan must not declare independence . . . . . . they have never stated any objection to Taiwan joining the USA!!! (Well, this is just my analysis, based on the exact content of the three bilateral communiques, etc. according to my reading . . . . . )
(2) Also, with Taiwan joining the USA, we could say “Fine, we agree to the One China Policy” . . . . . and I think that the PRC would be happy with that . . . . . after all, they are always saying that agreement to the “One China Policy” or “One China Principle” is a pre-condition for re-opening Cross-Strait negotiations!!
[quote]There are many problems in our current Constitution that need to be tackled, amongst which the more immediate and obvious include: whether to have a three-branch or five-branch separation of power; whether to adopt a presidential or parliamentary system of government; whether the president should be elected by a relative majority or an absolute majority; reform of the national legislature and relevant articles; the role of the National Assembly and its retainment versus abolishment; whether to suspend or abolish the provincial government; lowering of voting age; modification of compulsory military service requirements; protection of basic human rights and the rights of the disadvantaged; and, principles governing the running of the national economy.
…
In the same context, I am fully aware that consensus has yet to be reached on issues related to national sovereignty, territory and the subject of unification/independence; therefore, let me explicitly propose that these particular issues be excluded from the present constitutional re-engineering project.[/quote]
[quote]We can understand why the government on the other side of the Strait, in light of historical complexities and ethnic sentiments, cannot relinquish the insistence on the “One China Principle.” By the same token, the Beijing authorities must understand the deep conviction held by the people of Taiwan to strive for democracy, to love peace, to pursue their dreams free from threat, and, to embrace progress. But if the other side is unable to comprehend that this honest and simple wish represents the aspiration of Taiwan’s 23 million people, if it continues to threaten Taiwan with military force, if it persists in isolating Taiwan diplomatically, if it keeps up irrational efforts to blockade Taiwan’s rightful participation in the international arena, this will only serve to drive the hearts of the Taiwanese people further away and widen the divide in the Strait.
The Republic of China now exists in Taiwan, Penghu (The Pescadores), Kinmen and Matsu. This is a fact. Taiwan
There’s nothing much to take exception to there. He’s said more or less what needed to be said, and hasn’t fired off any loose shots that might have dire repercussions.
I’m glad to see that we laowai get a mention and are to be embraced as part of the “New Taiwan” family:
We’ll have to hold him to that in the next four years, and cite these words when we press for better visa, residency, and other rights commensurate with our contribution to this country and our membership of this family.
It’s a rather poor translation on the Presidential Office website, with a lot of clumsy phrasing and glaring errors, but I suppose they had to do a rush job and didn’t have time to get it expertly polished and edited. I hope they’ll work on it some more and put up a better version later on.
. Some extracts: