Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) ended months of speculation yesterday when he turned down Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) invitation to be his running mate.
"I was hoping for `Ma-Wang cooperation' before seeking a `Ma-Wang ticket,' but [former] chairman Ma wanted an answer immediately. I thanked him for his invitation, but it's been very busy in the legislature, so I had to decline," Wang said after a closed-door meeting with Ma at Wang's home.
Although there will be no "Ma-Wang ticket," Wang said he would cooperate with Ma in pushing for KMT victory in both the legislative and presidential elections.
PHOTO: WANG YI-SUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Wang said that he and Ma were still divided on many issues, including campaign platforms, future policies and goals, as well as the KMT's assets problem.
"Without reaching a consensus on these issues, the problems will not disappear merely as a result of our pairing up," he said.
Refusing to comment on whether he would join Ma's campaign team, Wang said that he would focus on his work in the Legislative Yuan for now.
Standing next to Wang, Ma said he was disappointed by Wang's decision, but added that he would start searching for another running mate.
"I haven't put any effort into searching for other possible vice presidential candidates, so I will have to start the search now," Ma said.
Ma declined to comment on who he might consider as running mate, but said he hoped to find someone who would complement him and help win the presidential election.
The KMT is expected to formally nominate a presidential and vice presidential candidate during its party congress on June 24, which leaves Ma less than three weeks to find a running mate.
Wang yesterday accused the KMT of damaging his relationship with Ma by spreading rumors that he had negotiated with KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (
The Chinese-language China Times and United Daily News reported Wu had promised Wang that he would be in charge of domestic policies as vice president, while Ma would focus on national defense and international relations.
"Chairman Wu brought up the issue, but I asked him to stop talking about power distribution. The newspapers, however, claimed that I had been the one to raise the topic. Ridiculous!" Wang said.
He urged the KMT not to spread any rumors that would jeopardize the trusting relationship between him and Ma.
Wang also denied having delayed his reply to Ma's invitation.
"I informed chairman Ma of my decision a long time ago. The public has been misinformed," he said.
Ma acknowledged that Wang had turned down his offer in April at a meeting with former KMT secretary-general Chan Chun-po (
Ma said he would support Wang's decision to stay in the legislature, and called for party unity.
The former Taipei mayor said that they had informed former KMT chairman Lien Chan (
Ma said that he and Wang would not reconsider.
Ma formally offered Wang the vice presidential ticket on May 9.
Wang had said last Saturday that he would rather speak of "Ma-Wang cooperation" than a "Ma-Wang ticket."
Wu has previously denied talking to the media about his meeting with Wang and dismissed reports that he had asked Wang to reserve a certain amount of power for him as vice president if he accepted Ma's offer.
Wu said in a statement that he had urged Wang to pair up with Ma to increase the party's odds in the presidential election and had not addressed the power issue.
Also see story:
Editorial: Where are Taiwan's real leaders?
CHAOS: Iranians took to the streets playing celebratory music after reports of Khamenei’s death on Saturday, while mourners also gathered in Tehran yesterday Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major attack on Iran launched by Israel and the US, throwing the future of the Islamic republic into doubt and raising the risk of regional instability. Iranian state television and the state-run IRNA news agency announced the 86-year-old’s death early yesterday. US President Donald Trump said it gave Iranians their “greatest chance” to “take back” their country. The announcements came after a joint US and Israeli aerial bombardment that targeted Iranian military and governmental sites. Trump said the “heavy and pinpoint bombing” would continue through the week or as long
TRUST: The KMT said it respected the US’ timing and considerations, and hoped it would continue to honor its commitments to helping Taiwan bolster its defenses and deterrence US President Donald Trump is delaying a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan to ensure his visit to Beijing is successful, a New York Times report said. The weapons sales package has stalled in the US Department of State, the report said, citing US officials it did not identify. The White House has told agencies not to push forward ahead of Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), it said. The two last month held a phone call to discuss trade and geopolitical flashpoints ahead of the summit. Xi raised the Taiwan issue and urged the US to handle arms sales to
State-run CPC Corp, Taiwan (CPC, 台灣中油) yesterday said that it had confirmed on Saturday night with its liquefied natural gas (LNG) and crude oil suppliers that shipments are proceeding as scheduled and that domestic supplies remain unaffected. The CPC yesterday announced the gasoline and diesel prices will rise by NT$0.2 and NT$0.4 per liter, respectively, starting Monday, citing Middle East tensions and blizzards in the eastern United States. CPC also iterated it has been reducing the proportion of crude oil imports from the Middle East and diversifying its supply sources in the past few years in response to geopolitical risks, expanding
Pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai’s (黎智英) fraud conviction and prison sentence were yesterday overturned by a Hong Kong court, in a surprise legal decision that comes soon after Lai was jailed for 20 years on a separate national security charge. Judges Jeremy Poon (潘兆初), Anthea Pang (彭寶琴) and Derek Pang (彭偉昌) said in the judgement that they allowed the appeal from Lai, and another defendant in the case, to proceed, as a lower court judge had “erred.” “The Court of Appeal gave them leave to appeal against their conviction, allowed their appeals, quashed the convictions and set aside the sentences,” the judges
RSS