Taiwan leader accepts blame for slow relief efforts

By Xie Yu (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-08-19 08:47

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou Tuesday apologized for his government's handling of relief efforts following Typhoon Morakot and took responsibility for failings after the island's deadliest storm in 50 years.

Taiwan leader accepts blame for slow relief efforts

Taiwan's leader Ma Ying-jeou (second right), and members of his government take a bow yesterday in Taipei, Taiwan out of respect to victims of Typhoon Morakot before a press conference on the government's reactions to the disaster. [Agencies]

Despite the apology, Ma said he will not resign over the slow response to the tragedy.

However, the island's "vice foreign minister", Andrew Hsia, tendered his resignation yesterday following criticism of rescue efforts, making him the first political casualty of the storm.

Ma said he needed to remain at the helm.

"I have noticed the public outcry, but at this critical moment, I cannot resign. I must supervise the rebuilding of the disaster areas and help survivors rebuild their homes," he told a news conference.

Ma Tuesday ordered a probe into the government's handling of rescue efforts, saying the inquiry should be published by early September.

As the island's top leader, he must "take full responsibility for the mishandling of the typhoon relief efforts".

"So, I have to give the people and those who lost their loved ones my heartfelt apologies," he told reporters while bowing in apology.

Taiwan media reported Hsia resigned to take responsibility for his agency's initial rejection of aid from other governments after the typhoon claimed as many as 500 lives and caused $1.5 billion in damage. The official death toll stood at 128 with 307 missing as of Tuesday.

Hsia's agency initially instructed Taiwan missions abroad to reject offers of aid but reversed the decision on Aug 13.

"If we caused any misunderstanding, it's because of me," Hsia was quoted as saying. The government has not yet issued a statement to say whether it will accept his resignation. Some lawmakers have demanded the resignation of the heads of the island's foreign, defense, agriculture and interior departments.

Critics have said rescue efforts were too slow and criticized the initial rejection of offers of help from countries including the US and Israel.

Ma's popularity fell sharply following the typhoon. In recent days, the "Presidential Office" website has been jammed with public criticism.

A TVBS television opinion poll on Aug 12 showed 51 percent of people in southern Taiwan, the worst-hit area, disapproved of Ma.

"The typhoon has become the biggest threat to Ma's political life," said Shih Cheng-chuan, a professor of international affairs at Taipei-based Tamkang University. "Hsia is a scapegoat, and his stepping-down should muffle some criticism."

Ma said he will cancel the Oct 10 "national day" celebrations and his visit to the South Pacific regional summit so he can concentrate on the typhoon response.

Taiwan will cut its military spending by $300 million to buy 15 search-and-rescue helicopters for disaster relief.

And he expressed gratitude to the Chinese mainland and international community for aid.

Four US heavy-lift helicopters began to transport machinery yesterday into mountainous areas in southern Taiwan.

Wang Yi, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said yesterday the mainland is ready to send medical experts, rescue professionals and heavy-lift helicopters. Mainland officials had said earlier they were prepared to loan helicopters but received little response.

Taiwan media reported earlier that authorities there preferred to take only supplies and money offered by the mainland.

The refusal of the helicopters was mainly a "security concern" because they could allow the mainland to look at features that would be missed by satellites.

Song Xiaojun, a Beijing-based military expert, said loaning Mi-26 helicopters to Taiwan should not be "sensitive at all".

"What can a helicopter do?" Song said. "It will not threaten Taiwan's security at all, but it may hurt Ma Ying-jeou's political status, if anti-mainland forces use it to attack him."

Air China carried the mainland's second batch of disaster relief - including more than 10,000 sleeping bags, 10,000 blankets and 1,000 sterilizing machines - to Taiwan yesterday afternoon.

Its first batch of 100 prefabricated houses also arrived in Taiwan's Kaohsiung yesterday.

Agencies contributed to the story