President Chen Shui-bian (
The discussions came after Liu Chao-eh (
Chen had been expected to announce his support for Liu's bid in his capacity as DPP chairman yesterday afternoon during the party's weekly Central Standing Committee meeting.
Liu is thought to have agreed to support Chen's presidential election bid next year in return for the DPP's endorsement of her candidacy in the Hualien by-election, which will be held on Aug. 2.
Following Liu's announcement yesterday, DPP Deputy Secretary General Lee Chin-yung (
The DPP yesterday refused to comment on who it was considering for the candidacy. It said it would announce a nominee today.
Nevertheless, speculation was rife yesterday that You would make a third consecutive bid for the post.
You, now deputy superintendent of the Ketagalan Academy, had firmly rejected the DPP's invitation to run again.
But in an interview with a local TV station yesterday, You appeared to be open to the suggestion.
"I am still considering the election bid, and a more clear answer will be given after I meet with President Chen Shui-bian tonight," You said.
You flew from Hualien to Taipei yesterday evening yesterday to meet with Chen.
"Though I have personal reasons for not wanting to run in the election again, I will sacrifice them if necessary to avoid making it difficult for the DPP," he said.
"I ran with passion ... in the last two elections in order to improve the poor living standards here in Hualien, but it didn't work out. This time, if I run again, I really need a lot of courage to do so and I hope I can find that courage," You said.
RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source
CHINA REACTS: The patrol and reconnaissance plane ‘transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,’ the 7th Fleet said, while Taipei said it saw nothing unusual The US 7th Fleet yesterday said that a US Navy P-8A Poseidon flew through the Taiwan Strait, a day after US and Chinese defense heads held their first talks since November 2022 in an effort to reduce regional tensions. The patrol and reconnaissance plane “transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,” the 7th Fleet said in a news release. “By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations.” In a separate statement, the Ministry of National Defense said that it monitored nearby waters and airspace as the aircraft