Taiwan News rocks with another great editorial, this time on KMT dysfunctionality and corruption:
Opposition Kuomintang presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou has based his call for a "second transfer of power" largely on claims that the Democratic Progressive Party administration has been "incompetent" and "corrupt" and that only a restored KMT government can "restore" clean government.
Frankly, we doubt whether President Chen Shui-bian's administration, for all of its faults, merits Ma's claim in last Friday's Central Election Commission election forum that "Taiwan history has never seen such a corrupt government."
Ma's charge, citing the indictment of nearly 2,300 government functionaries since July 2000, merits closer re-examination, especially since virtually all cases of DPP "corruption" have concerned individual actions while the KMT party-state built a structural system of corruption, the fruits of which are manifested in part in the former ruling party's vast hoard of ill-gotten assets.
Moreover, while virtually all KMT officials or lawmakers indicted of corruption in the past eight years have fled to China or the United States, all DPP officials indicted have accepted trial and, if found guilty, gone to jail, while many headlined cases, such as those involving former deputy secretary-general Chen Cheh-nan, have ended in acquittals.
The editorial notes that the single Rebar case, involving a business owned by KMT higher-ups, was $40 billion, or far more than all the DPP cases put together. It then observes that the KMT has completely frustrated DPP attempts to foster clean government:
During the last eight years, the KMT-controlled procedural committee boycotted 165 times the DPP's proposed draft bills to set up an independent anti-corruption agency, blocked the draft law to recover ill-gotten party assets 101 times, stuffed anti-corruption revisions to the Election and Recall Law 60 times, vetoed review of "anti-black and gold" revisions to the local governance law 56 times and stiffed a draft bill to require public functionaries (including legislators) to avoid conflicts of interest 24 times.
Shortly after the new Legislature began operations, four of the above "sunshine" bills were referred for a second reading in the full Legislative Yuan, but the new KMT legislative caucus, which now controls nearly 82 of the Legislative Yuan's 113 seats, wasted no time in showing its "black and gold" colors by returning these bills to the procedural freezer on the grounds that they "lacked urgency."
Besides grabbing control over all legislative commissions, KMT lawmakers who are involved in financial business showed their contempt for the values of avoiding conflict of interest by flocking into the fiscal and financial affairs committee while several KMT lawmakers involved in civil or criminal prosecutions, including just released jailbird Chiu Yi, are camped in the judicial and legal affairs committee where they will be in an ideal position to "judge the judges."
Chiu Yi, readers may recall, was the one who charged the government building in a truck in 2004 during the post election KMT protests, nearly killing several people. He has a long history of lawsuits and absurd claims.
The frightening prospect of a KMT-controlled legislature was captured on TV yesterday. While I was waiting for the dentist to finish with my son, I watched as this event described in the editorial was replayed over and over:
KMT lawmakers have not been shy about abusing their power and their colleagues. News cameras yesterday captured KMT Legislator Wu Yu-sheng, convener of the Interior Affairs Committee, replying to a question by DPP Legislator Chiu Yi-yin by shouting "What kind of thing are you that I have to answer your question?"
That kind of behavior is just the kind of thing Frank Hsieh needs. Three more years of this crap before we get a chance to return a functioning and Taiwan-centered legislature. It will be a long three years....
[Taiwan]
great blog. sad to read but good to be informed. thanks, Michael.
ReplyDeleteThanks Richard. If Ma wins, it will probably turn into one long funeral.
ReplyDeleteMichael
Of course the KMT will restore a "clean" govt. The money will flow cleanly from the people of Taiwan into the KMT's coffers.
ReplyDeleteThe DPP has totally under marketed this information. It should have been subject to constant press conferences and a major ad campaign over the last 5 months.
ReplyDeleteOr is it that the DPP doesn't really care too much if their anti-corruption measures actually get passed? I'd hate to think that's the case, but for Christ's sake, they sure didn't play these up very much!
So the KMT thinks the DDP is corrupt. Well, isn't that the kettle calling the pot black.
ReplyDeleteMa doesn't need to beat up the current government to win. They do that quite nicely all by themselves.
That last piece is scary. Being a teacher, I can't help but wonder what kind of example these guys are setting.
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Unfortunately, long-term "integrity" is sacrificed for short-term "convenience" in Taiwanese culture. It is what produced the results in 2004 and, most recently, in the 2008 legislative elections.
What is astounding to me is how the Taiwanese complain about their political system being a circus when it is these same people who have elected these KMT authoritarian pigs in the first place.
As the ol' saying goes -- you can't have your cake and eat it too, especially when it's bought with black gold.
Have fun with 4 years of "the untouchables" in power, Taiwan.
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What is astounding to me is how the Taiwanese complain about their political system being a circus when it is these same people who have elected these KMT authoritarian pigs in the first place.
ReplyDeleteSo much mis-information, who is doing most of the mudslingings these days. Unless you believe Hsieh that he or the pro-greens have nothing to do with the "Taiwan Weekly News," and Ma is actually the one controlling it.
As for the corruptions, if Ma wins the election, a lot of DPP's dirts are all going to come out. They probably won't run for China. However, you will see who actually have green cards :).
It will also be a plus if the stock markets take a dive (this will include the US one, too) before Chen leaves. It will make Ma's job a lot easier because it will make him look like a savior when next election comes around with an upswing in the business cycle.
Btw, don't mind me, just trolling around here.
Or is it that the DPP doesn't really care too much if their anti-corruption measures actually get passed? I'd hate to think that's the case, but for Christ's sake, they sure didn't play these up very much!
ReplyDeleteYeah. One gets the feeling that the DPP doesn't actually care that much about corruption, only raising it from time-to-time to smack their opponents. If they really cared they'd have campaigned on KMT behaviour in the legislative for the last election, but it was mostly about ideology and independence.
This is why in some respects I don't care who wins this month - neither party has impressed me enough for me to think either will be an improvement over the other. Despite fears to the contrary about selling out I think a KMT-led administration wouldn't be much different from one under the DPP.
And maybe that's what it comes down to: The need to have your illusions smashed by years of genuine mismanagement. Even the business community might one day rue their incredible naivete at associating KMT ascension with a stable and competitive business environment.
ReplyDeleteBut that's the beauty of democracy: it is the ordinary person who must take responsibility for the government of the day. If they prefer handouts every election from KMT vote captains to a strong democracy then the joke - one day - will be on them.
Btw, don't mind me, just trolling around here.
ReplyDelete- yes we do mind you because you have proven to be a pompous ass over and over again. For someone that constantly brags about your education, I wonder why you haven't figured out how to be more persuasive in your arguments.
I encourage MT not to let his site become a toxic dump like Forumosa where 3-4 Taiwan hating trolls ruined it for everyone.
anonymous said: And maybe that's what it comes down to: The need to have your illusions smashed by years of genuine mismanagement.
ReplyDeleteBut the KMT are NOT especially bad managers. They're deeply rooted in Taiwan, and well-experienced in running the country in all its sectors. Don't expect a Bush-type new world order here, just a deepening of patronage and power distancing. What will change is the people who run the financial institutions and markets: the exchanges, banks and securities.
"What will change is the people who run the financial institutions and markets: the exchanges, banks and securities."
ReplyDeleteI think it is deeper than that. What worries me the most is having a government without oversight. If the KMT controls the presidency, and the KMT controls the legislative yuan, and the people in all of those financial instiutions are blue, then where is the oversight?
People make so much out of how much the KMT has improved in how they handle themselves in the last 20 years. However how much of that improvement has been because of the need to compete and the general view that their relative power was declining -- and therefore because they want to look good.
I don't think that, if Ma won, it would be a return to the bad old days of the KMT. However, I do think that corruption would go up and that most of it would be swept under the rug and actively forgotten. Say what you like about the DPP and corruption, but the fact remains that the DPP has been under constant oversight for the last eight years due to the legislature being in opposition hands. Their dirtiest laundry has been probably been aired by now. And, while they are far from clean, they are far from being the dirtiest of parties in this part of the world.
The KMT, despite not controlling the presidency, has not really been subject to the same oversight. They have polished the surface to look better. The grit underneath remains..... which of course is why they feel they must block sunshine legislation.
Great post, but I'm pessimistic about the usefulness of such reports about KMT corruption--it appears to be a waste because KMT support is now at an all-time high...The DPP seems in total disarray right now and, as 阿牛 says, this news is woefully under-exploited and publicized.
ReplyDeleteMyself, I'm seriously considering throwing in the towel at this point--as everything I thought to be true about Taiwan now seems to be false. If the people are willing to vote for a corrupt, authoritarian, China-centric, mafia-assisted KMT instead of a progressive, pro-Taiwan party what is to be done? If this is the will of the Taiwanese people then so be it, I think, but one can't help feeling we've all been proven wrong once and for all.
raj- i do care who wins this election because democracy is at stake.
ReplyDeleteif ma wins, the Taiwanese government will have no real checks and balances. with absolute power in both the legislative and executive branches of the government, the kmt will be even more corrupt.. and they will sue whoever dares to accuse them of corruption.
alas, a democratic government is only as good as the people.
For someone that constantly brags about your education, I wonder why you haven't figured out how to be more persuasive in your arguments.
ReplyDeleteI also mentioned that I am a nobody. Unless you believe higher education really means something other than for your own satisfaction and thirst for knowledge.
I also believe that there is no way you can change someone's believes unless their decisions (due to their believes) have finally done them wrong and have caused them harm. However, I also believe that it is my duty to at least warn them about it i.e. not to buy a house now in California.
Btw, I don't hate Taiwan, and I don't love Taiwan. I am simply concerned. I am an American and my love and my royalty are only for my country, the United States. Although accusing of someone hating a particular thing just reminds me of how Bush accuses anyone who disagreeing with him "unpatriotic."
Nostalgiphile Well said, I feel exactly the same way. (Seriously considering throwing in the towel on Taiwan...)
ReplyDeleteIt will be even grimmer for Taiwan once the US financial system implodes and the recession spills over to Taiwan and China. It's going to get ugly here. Ma's may be forced to sign some deal with the PRC.
I'm not sure I can buy the 'increased corruption' argument if KMT wins, though transparency will be a concern.
ReplyDeleteTaiwan has ranked about 34 of 179 on the Transparency Int'l Corruption Perception Index since it was first taken in 2002.
As KMT has controlled the LY throughout much of that time, I don't know if Taiwan will see any significant increase in corruption levels. However, how I do wonder if there will be less of an attempt to expose it by anti-corruption advocates inside Taiwan. Would the red shirts march against Ma if elected? This remains to be seen.
My observation indicates that Taiwan business (ergo politics) has too much to lose to be perceived as endemically corrupt.
Increasing contacts with China probably won't help much, but again, I don't think most of Taiwan's business leaders want to be part of China's corrupt system, as some are learning the hard way that doing business in China is not a matter of sharing and caring.
Of course, those Taiwan companies that flee to Vietnam are doing business with a country ranked 123 on the TI index.
(Contrasting Taiwan with its important enighbors on the CPI:
China and India are ranked 72, Korea = 43,
Japan =17,
HK = 14,
Singapore = 4.
The numbers for each country change only by a .1 or .2 point over these years.
(On the Bribe Payers Index, Taiwan, China, HK and Korea all rank as having high levels of bribery in 1999 and all increasing somewhat in 2002).
TI Int'l has noted increases in bribery in all countries that have seen an increase in manufacturing exports.
To all those who think of "abandoning" Taiwan, I understand how you feel. I feel the same way sometimes. But I dont think it is possible to abandon the things you really love.
ReplyDeleteI am tired of Blue and mainland trolls telling me that because I am foreign, I have no right to speak about the situation because it is only right to be able to speak about a situation that you care a great deal about.
So if you care about the situation, don't talk about selling out yourselves. That is just counterproductive.
I remember when I was about 10 and our family's favorite football team lost a big game. I said that I would not support the team again (10 year olds are sometimes like that). My father told me that I was not a true fan. And he was right. I did not care, and I did not support them, or any football team in the future. It was not my thing.
You support what you care about. And regardless of the outcome of the election, I know where I am placing my support.
Thomas:
ReplyDeleteExactly, that's the difference between Greens and Blues. If Blues can't get power, they will spitefully block any and all legislation so that Taiwan can't improve. If Blues can't get power, they leave Taiwan in droves, whether it means returning to the US or going to China. James Soong goes to live (no, no business, not studying, nothing...) every time he loses. Ma Yi-nan, who came back to support Ma Ying-jeou's vice-mayor in the KMT Taipei mayoral election primary, muttered when her man was losing that, ah, let's just go back to the US.
It is exactly this attitude that separates Greens from Blues. The top Green politicians are in Taiwan for the long-haul, and they don't just leave every time they lose.