Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Tsai should stand behind primary

Taipei Times Editorial

There used to be a warning disguised as a jest that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was becoming “KMT-ized,” or backsliding to become like the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), which has been known for its palace politics and undemocratic practices.

However, recent developments seem to suggest that there is an irony unfolding: While the KMT has made progress toward enforcing the democratic system by holding a presidential primary, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of the DPP is looking to drive her party in the opposite direction.

A dead end to WHO participation

Lin Shih-chia 林世嘉

According to media reports, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said: “If there is no ‘cross-strait understanding’ this year, it is not expected that an invitation to the WHA [World Health Assembly] will be issued” to Taiwan.

Lindmeier not only seriously overstepped the authority of the secretariat of an international organization, but his statement in many ways cannot be justified.

Terry Gou record raises questions

Taipei Times Editorial

Terry Gou (郭台銘), Taiwan’s wealthiest man and chairman of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, on Wednesday threw his hat into the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential primary.

There are many reasons that Gou’s bid should raise questions and red flags. Here are four:

First, Gou’s record as chairman of Hon Hai — known internationally as Foxconn Technology Group and famous for assembling Apple Inc iPhones — is questionable.

Governing with common sense

Liberty Times Editorial

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) is fond of making impromptu remarks in front of reporters. Sometimes, his remarks show a lack of understanding and are nonsensical, but at times they reveal a common sense in a plain and frank manner that only an amateur politician can do, which explains why he is so popular.

His statement in an interview earlier this month that the referendum on an import ban on food products from five Japanese prefectures was “feeble-minded” was a typical Ko statement.

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