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DPP appeals first reading of bill on
Chinese students
TALKING HEADS: Despite scuffles, Legislative Speaker Wang
Jin-pyng praised both parties for debating the controversial bill in a manner he
described as rational
By Flora Wang and Vincent Y. Chao
STAFF REPORTERS
Wednesday, May 12, 2010, Page 3
Democratic Progressive Party legislators Chen
Ting-fei, Chai Trong-rong and Lee Chun-yee, right to left, speak to the press in
Taipei yesterday about their view that recognizing Chinese qualifications will
ruin Taiwanese students’ career prospects.
PHOTO: CHANG CHIA-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
A government-backed plan allowing Taiwanese universities to accept Chinese
students could be delayed after the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus
appealed against its first reading passed on Monday.
The amendment to admit students from China passed a committee review on Monday
amid scuffles between Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and DPP lawmakers at a
joint meeting of the Internal Administration Committee and the Education and
Culture Committee.
To stall the review process, the DPP caucus on Monday night launched a formal
appeal against the passage of the first reading.
In accordance with legislative procedure, the committees must now jointly decide
whether to accept the DPP caucus’ motion.
Members of the Internal Administration Committee said the appeal could mean that
it would be unable to deliver a report to the procedural committee, which sets
the legislative schedule, in time to be included on Friday’s agenda.
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said he doubted whether the bill would
make it to the plenary session this week, adding that the proposal continued to
be plagued by “numerous uncertainties” even though the KMT caucus planned to
discuss it during Friday’s plenary meeting.
Despite the clashes on Monday, Wang said both parties had kept their word and
negotiated the bill rationally.
A brawl broke out at the Education and Culture Committee two weeks ago as it
attempted to read through the minutes of the previous week’s session to confirm
that a preliminary review of amendments to the University Act (大學法) and the
Vocational School Act (專科學校法) had been completed.
These allowed Taiwanese schools to recruit Chinese students and to recognize
Chinese credentials.
The meeting ended with committee head KMT Legislator Chao Li-yun (趙麗雲) being
rushed to the emergency room while a number of DPP legislators were also taken
to hospital for medical treatment.
KMT caucus whip Lin Yi-shih (林益世) yesterday said he would not rule out proposing
that the bill be put directly to a second reading during Friday’s plenary
session, but Lin said the caucus would first negotiate the matter with Wang.
Meanwhile, both the KMT and the DPP caucuses agreed that the two bills would be
reviewed by committee again today.
Speaking to media yesterday, DPP Legislator Chen Ting-fei (陳亭妃) defended her
caucus’ actions and said KMT lawmakers should not have set a timeframe to pass
the controversial law.
“What is all this hurry about? Is the haste really because of the government’s
policies or is it because of the economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA),
or to make it cooperate with China’s policies?” Chen asked.
She said KMT lawmakers should give the opposition party a chance to air its
concerns.
“Is there something the KMT is afraid of? There is widespread public concern
over this policy, which they should first make an effort to understand,” Chen
said.
Raising concerns that Taiwanese jobs would be negatively affected by opening
Taiwan to Chinese students — as the measure was tied to the recognition of
Chinese educational certification — the DPP proposed a clause forbidding the use
of Chinese certification in obtaining professional licenses or taking part in
public service and teacher examinations.
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