Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Lai talks sovereignty at DPP congress

Taipei Times

Taiwanese have the right to build a democratic, sovereign nation based on the protection of human rights and freedom, President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday said in his keynote address at the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) National Congress in Taipei.

Lai, who is also the DPP’s chairman, presented three key tasks for party members to focus on: bolstering national identity based on Taiwan sovereignty, deepening democratic values based on the constitutional framework and safeguarding human rights and freedom.

“Voters have handed the heavy responsibility of governing this country to the DPP, because they wish for the DPP to continue leading Taiwan into the future,” Lai said.

Show no leniency for Chinese spies

Taipei Times Editorial

The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau intends to investigate allegations of Chinese infiltration through a third-party committee, sources said on July 4.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is increasingly using Taiwan’s democracy and freedom against it, recruiting Taiwanese for espionage and interfering in Taiwan’s elections through influence campaigns, bureau Director-General Chen Pai-li (陳白立) said.

Suspects in such trials are regularly acquitted due to lack of evidence and difficulty tracing funds back to the CCP.

Court suspends legislative reform bills

Taipei Times

The Constitutional Court yesterday ordered the temporary suspension of controversial legislative reform bills passed in May in a move that prevents the legal changes from being implemented.

The suspension is to remain in force until the court rules on the constitutional challenges to the bills, affecting one article of the Criminal Code and eight articles of the Act Governing the Legislative Yuan’s Power (立法院職權行使法), the court said in a news release.

The ruling means the legal amendments promulgated on June 24 cease to be in effect for the time being.

Honor guard change small, but vital

Taipei Times Editorial

After decades of standing sentry over the enormous bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) at his eponymous memorial in Taipei, the honor guards’ clacking boots are no longer heard reverberating around its cavernous hall.

However, they have not gone far: Since Monday, the guards have moved just outside the memorial park’s Democracy Boulevard. When weather permits, a six-member guard is to march from the north and south entrances to the park and converge by the steps leading up to the hall every hour on the hour between 9am and 5pm. They will also still perform the flag-raising and lowering ceremonies as usual, ensuring the popular tourist draw remains mostly unchanged.

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