Two days ago President Chen (陳水扁) made a national address to the people in response to the ever intensified scandals and litigations within the government and the first family. The 2-hour televised speech was mainly focusing on the rebuttal against the 10 listed accusations filed by the opposition parties1. The responsibility and the capability of President Chen as a leader of the nation is under question on various issues including corruption, ineffective governance, and national instability from stagnated economic growth, increased social injustice to aggravated crimes. Especially the recent incident of alleged insider trading investigation involving his son-in-law Chao Chien-Ming (趙建銘) has further put the President Chen's administration to an even darker period of his time.

As a leader of a nation the entire situtaion just cannot get much worse. Six years of governance under Chen's administration has been condemned by the opposition parties in the overall as incompetence. Furthermore, both Chen and his party may have already lost the confidence and trust from the people in an attempt to save what is left in the very essence of the ruling party since the beginning of its foundation. Followed by the contested issue on the use of presidential recall it is sad to see that this island with 23 million resident has come to such state. Will President Chen, who was the first succeeded in winning the presidency from the opposition party, also be the first to be removed from the office in Taiwan's history? Whether the inevitable will become a fact or a mere close one remains to be unfold.

1. Ko, Shun-ling 2006 "Chen defends his government, actions", Taipei Times, 21 Jun, http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2006/06/21/2003314713
   

Republic of Taiwan 2006 !!

The Republic of Taiwan is established in 2006. This serves to bring reconciliation to the islanders themselves.