Opinion from the Taipei Times, by Paul Lin, (link):
The insider-trading scandal has inflicted serious damage on the Democratic Progressive Party‘s (DPP) image. But if we can step away from the blue-green antagonism and instead look at the overall situation, the scandal is both a test of Taiwan’s democratic system and a milestone in the nation’s democracy.
In addition to the international mouthpieces of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Taiwan’s pan-blue politicians have been most keen to sensationalize the scandal.
KMT Legislator Chiu Yi was scheduled to deliver a speech in Beijing to boast his self-proclaimed heroic ability to reveal government corruption scandals. But his speech was blocked by China and he could only suffer the embarrassment and return to Taiwan. One wonders why Chiu did not have the guts to hold a press conference to talk about China’s suppression of free speech.
Taipei Times’ “Legislator who quit DPP tells Chen to follow his lead” by Jewel Huang (link):
Independent Legislator Lin Wuei-chou yesterday urged President Chen Shui-bian to withdraw from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and give up the presidency. But DPP lawmakers disagreed, and asked him to mind his own business.
Lin, who quit the DPP at the end of March, saying he was disappointed in the DPP’s performance, yesterday held a news conference at the Legislative Yuan to urge the president to follow in his footsteps.
See also BBC News’ “Taiwan leader surrenders powers” (link); Taipei Times’ “KMT group urges Chen to resign” (link); Taipei Times’ “Now I’m just the president: Chen” (link)