Fans of Wang Chien-ming (王建民) were ecstatic yesterday as the popular New York Yankees pitcher returned home for a holiday during Major League Baseball's off-season.
More than 200 fans and journalists waited outside Wang's home in Tainan yesterday morning. When a Ford Caravan entered the alley leading to Wang's home shortly after 11am, it was quickly surrounded by the crowd eager to catch a glimpse of their hero.
The zeal of the fans forced Wang's relatives to negotiate a deal with police to establish a cordon in front of the house so that Wang and his wife could safely step out of their vehicle and enter the building.
PHOTO: HUANG WEN-HUANG, TAIPEI TIMES
The couple finally made it through the front door after being stranded in the car by the press of the crowd for more than an hour.
Wang's homecoming was widely publicized in the Chinese-language dailies yesterday. A large crowd of equally excited fans were on hand at Kaohsiung International Airport to greet him upon his arrival there.
Airport police were deployed to maintain order as Wang came down the escalator to the terminal's lobby.
Wang smiled and waved at the crowd but did not talk to reporters. The fans did not seem to mind as most were busy taking photos of their idol with their digital cameras and mobile phones.
Wang is expected to stay in Taiwan for at least two months since he is not due to return to the US until January. His time will be divided between his family and making public appearances.
As the spokesperson of this year's Continental Baseball Cup in Taichung, Wang will throw out the first ball next Thursday when Taiwan plays Cuba. Wang has donated the NT$5,000 honorarium he received from the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association for the event to charity.
On Nov. 25 he will participate in a climbathon hosted by Shinkong Mitsukoshi Department Store. Participants in the climbathon will also be entered in a lottery with the chance to win a baseball personally signed by Wang.
‘UNFRIENDLY’: Changing the nationality listing of Taiwanese residents to ‘China’ goes against EU foreign policy as well as democratic and human rights principles, MOFA said Taiwan yesterday called on Denmark to correct its designation of the nationality of Taiwanese residents as “China” or face retaliatory measures. The Danish government in 2024 changed the nationality of Taiwanese citizens on their residence permits from “Taiwan” to “China.” The decision goes against EU foreign policy and contravenes democratic and human rights principles, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) said. Denmark should present a solution acceptable to Taiwan as soon as possible and correct the erroneous designation to preserve the longstanding friendship between the two nations, Hsiao said. The issue could damage Denmark’s image and business reputation in Taiwan,
KEY INDUSTRY: The vice premier discussed a plan to create a non-red drone supply chain by next year, which has been allocated a budget of more than NT$7.2 billion The government has budgeted NT$44.2 billion (US$1.38 billion) to cultivate Taiwan’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) industry over the next five years, which would make the nation a major player in the industry’s democratic supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday. Cho made the remarks during a visit to the facilities of Cub Elecparts Inc (為升電裝). Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Su-yueh (陳素月) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝依鳳) also participated in the trip. Cub Elecparts has transitioned from the automotive industry to the defense industry, which is the top priority among the nation’s
SOUTH KOREA DISPUTE: If Seoul continues to ignore its request, Taiwan would change South Korea’s designation on its arrival cards, the foreign ministry said If South Korea does not reply appropriately to a request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, the government would take corresponding measures to change how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. Taipei has asked Seoul to change the wording. Since March 1, South Koreans who hold government-issued Alien Resident Certificates (ARC) have been identified as from “South Korea” rather than the “Republic of Korea,” the
SUFFICIENT: The president said Taiwan has enough oil for next month, with reserves covering more than 100 days and natural gas enough for 12 to 14 days A restart plan for the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里) and the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township (恆春) would be submitted to the Nuclear Safety Commission by the end of the month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, reversing the government’s policy to abolish nuclear energy. On May 17 last year, Taiwan shut down its last nuclear reactor and became the first non-nuclear nation in East Asia, fulfilling the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government’s pledge of a “nuclear-free homeland.” Even without nuclear power, Taiwan can maintain a stable electricity supply until 2032,
RSS