Embattled President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen made the remarks while delivering a speech to supporters from his hometown in Tainan County at a gathering in Taipei.
Also on hand were Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), Presidential Office Secretary-General Mark Chen (陳唐山), the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP's) Taipei mayoral candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), as well as several DPP legislators.
Chen, facing public demands for his ouster in the wake of a series of corruption and embezzlement allegations implicating family members, in-laws and top aides, said he was particularly heartened by the boost from his long-term supporters.
Chen pledged he will put up with any difficulties ahead, saying "no matter how vicious the attacks and smears are, I'll stick to my guns and will never fall or lose my will."
Chen refused -- even under heavy pressure -- to renege on the mandate given him by voters, vowing to "bravely go down the right path and pursue my goals and campaigns."
He stressed that he would follow the path of "insisting on a separate identity for Taiwan, and the realization of social justice."
He reaffirmed his four goals -- increasing investment in Taiwan, creating employment opportunities, narrowing the gap between urban and rural areas as well as the gap between rich and poor.
A recent report by the Department of Budget, Accounting and Statistics showed that the income of Taiwan's wealthiest individuals was 6.04 times that of the poorest last year.
The president said he would also insist on three campaigns -- joining the UN under the name of Taiwan, crafting a new Constitution that would be "timely, relevant and viable," and retrieving the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) ill-gotten assets, which were obtained during the authoritarian era.
He said he as an individual is insignificant, but that safeguarding the nation is very important, saying "everyone should cherish what Taiwan has today."
"What is the meaning if we continue this boisterous squabbling," he asked, adding that if "incessant fighting throws Taiwan into pandemonium and China takes advantage of the situation to invade Taiwan, then what good will it bring to Taiwan?"
The president said Taiwan is a democratic country and democracy means freedom and rule of law.
But he urged respect for this freedom, saying that if the public does not heed the rule of law it will mean chaos for the nation. Any problems should be solved within a legal framework and should not be settled through violence or means outside the existing system, he said.
Taiwan yesterday denied Chinese allegations that its military was behind a cyberattack on a technology company in Guangzhou, after city authorities issued warrants for 20 suspects. The Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau earlier yesterday issued warrants for 20 people it identified as members of the Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command (ICEFCOM). The bureau alleged they were behind a May 20 cyberattack targeting the backend system of a self-service facility at the company. “ICEFCOM, under Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, directed the illegal attack,” the warrant says. The bureau placed a bounty of 10,000 yuan (US$1,392) on each of the 20 people named in
The High Court yesterday found a New Taipei City woman guilty of charges related to helping Beijing secure surrender agreements from military service members. Lee Huei-hsin (李慧馨) was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison for breaching the National Security Act (國家安全法), making illegal compacts with government employees and bribery, the court said. The verdict is final. Lee, the manager of a temple in the city’s Lujhou District (蘆洲), was accused of arranging for eight service members to make surrender pledges to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in exchange for money, the court said. The pledges, which required them to provide identification
Nine retired generals from Taiwan, Japan and the US have been invited to participate in a tabletop exercise hosted by the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation tomorrow and Wednesday that simulates a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan in 2030, the foundation said yesterday. The five retired Taiwanese generals would include retired admiral Lee Hsi-min (李喜明), joined by retired US Navy admiral Michael Mullen and former chief of staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces general Shigeru Iwasaki, it said. The simulation aims to offer strategic insights into regional security and peace in the Taiwan Strait, it added. Foundation chair Huang Huang-hsiung
’DISTORTION’: Beijing’s assertion that the US agreed with its position on Taiwan is a recurring tactic it uses to falsely reinforce its sovereignty claims, MOFA said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said Chinese state media deliberately distorted Taiwan’s sovereign status, following reports that US President Donald Trump agreed to uphold the “one China” policy in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平). During the more than one-hour-long call, Xi urged Trump to retreat from trade measures that roiled the global economy and cautioned him against threatening steps on Taiwan, a Chinese government summary of the call said. China’s official Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying that the US should handle the Taiwan issue cautiously and avoid the two countries being drawn into dangerous
RSS