High-ranking officials from the pan-blue and pan-green camp were stepping over each other in their effort to demonstrate their newfound respect for "political reconciliation" at a ceremony held yesterday morning at the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) headquarters, in which Su Tseng-chang (
The ceremony, held to celebrate the appointment of the DPP's 11th chairman, was the most elaborate such event since the DPP was established in 1986. Top political leaders of every stripe attended the ceremony, including President Chen Shui-bian (
PHOTO:LO TEH-PEI, TAIPEI TIMES
Notably, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (
In his congratulatory speech, Chen praised Su as an outstanding talent in the DPP who has extensive experience in politics, and lauded his earnest mien and integrity.
Chen also encouraged Su to lead the DPP to advance Taiwan into a new phase, using Su's catchphrase, "Rush, rush, rush!", which he said represents Su's efficiency and vigor in working.
Chen also delivered a mild chastisement to Su, telling him not to work too hard or to "go too far," which touched off a wave of uproarious laughter among the attendants. Su had often been criticized during the legislative elections for what many considered his unmasked efforts to advance his political career and his attempts to upstage Chen.
"I would also like to remind Chairman Su not to go too far when he is rushing ahead to his goal," Chen said.
"The most splendid ending always belongs to the most honest actors who play their roles well," Chen added.
Su responded to Chen's mild reproach after the ceremony, saying that it was simply a demonstration of Chen's goodwill and expectations for him and that the president had a good sense of propriety.
Since the DPP's prospective presidential candidates in 2008 -- including Lu, Yu, Su and Premier Frank Hsieh (
Lu praised Su as "the most suitable successor of Chen," which caused a small disturbance amongst the audience members, who were dissecting every remark for its political significance.
Lu also stated that Su's new post symbolized the fact that the attorneys who defended the victims accused of being "insurrectionists" in the Kaohsiung Incident (
"Today's inauguration also represents the success of the `Southern Revolution' since President Chen, Premier Hsieh and Chairman Su all come from southern Taiwan," Lu said. "I believed the values of southern Taiwan will be integrated into the values of Taiwan and become the mainstream."
Hsieh, who is viewed as Su's main competitor to run in the 2008 presidential election as the DPP candidate, extolled Su for gaining a lot of support and being wiser than he is, and said he believed that a good division of labor between Su and him will benefit the nation.
Accompanied by his family -- his mother, his wife Chan Hsiu-ling (詹秀齡) and two daughters, Su walked into the ceremony all smiles. He vowed that he would lead the DPP to become a political party that could touch people's hearts.
"Action and interaction will be the DPP's mottos, and it will work hard to become an earnest party that listens to the people's voice," Su said in his speech after taking the DPP seal from acting chairman Ker Chien-ming (
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
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
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