LOOKING FORWARD: KMT Chairman Wu Den-yih said arbitrarily lengthening the prohibition period for travel to China would set a bad example for future administrations
Taipei Times
Date: Feb 15, 2019
By: Sean Lin / Staff reporter
With the new legislative session beginning today, the Democratic Progressive Party
Former president Ma Ying-jeou, center, gives out Lunar New Year lucky envelopes to the pilgrims at Zhinan Temple in Taipei’s Muzha Disrtict on Wednesday.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
(DPP) caucus yesterday listed as priorities amendments that would significantly extend the prohibition period for visits to China by former presidents, vice presidents, generals and political appointees.
The caucus’ draft amendment to the Classified National Security Information Protection Act (國家機密保護法) seeks to extend the prohibition period for retired presidents and vice presidents from three years after their retirement to six years, while a draft amendment to the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (台灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例) aims to extend the period during which retired generals are barred from visiting China.
The DPP caucus’ prioritization of the bills for review drew protest from former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who last month said that he did not rule out visiting China after his three-year ban is lifted on May 20.
Ma’s office yesterday issued a statement criticizing the DPP, saying that attempting to push through the “unconstitutional” amendments was politicking, would aggravate ideological conflicts and would neglect legislation related to energy and people’s livelihoods. [FULL STORY]
