Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) called for solidarity as he was sworn in as party chairman yesterday.
"We lost in the first half of the game, but we must win back confidence, hope and integrity in the second half," he said, referring to the legislative elections last Saturday and the presidential election on March 22.
Hsieh said the party had its back to the wall.
"We can only march forward and work hard," he said. "We are in a similar state to when the party was established 20 years ago. Apart from a nearly meaningless minority in the legislature, we have nothing. We must fight to survive."
Hsieh said he realized the presidential contest would be a tough one and expected the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) to exploit the results of the legislative elections.
Saying the DPP had no option but to unite, Hsieh said the onus was on the party to convince the public that a divided government could function.
RATIONALIZATION
During the party Central Executive Committee meeting that followed the swearing-in ceremony, Hsieh asked the party's newly elected legislators-at-large to establish joint service centers in light of the fact that the party's number of seats had been dramatically reduced.
Hsieh also asked the Executive Yuan to work out a plan to subsidize low-income individuals who cannot afford to pay their health insurance bills.
The committee, meanwhile, agreed that former DPP legislator Tuan Yi-kang (
Amid calls for certain Cabinet officials to be held responsible for the party's elections defeat, DPP Central Standing Committee member Huang Ching-lin (
inappropriate
Hsieh said after the committee meeting that it was inappropriate to apportion blame and that those bent on doing so should not be involved in the party's presidential campaign.
He likened these critics to camels in a caravan that were too tired, hungry or thirsty to continue.
Huang Ching-lin said Hsieh's comment was inappropriate and urged the presidential candidate to keep everyone onboard for the sake of party unity.
Hsieh said he had not addressed his comment at anyone in particular.
DPP Cultural and Information Department Director Hsieh Hsin-ni (謝欣霓) said the party would listen to the public and it was meaningless to hold anyone accountable for the election defeat.
"We could have criticized ourselves and debated where we went wrong, but we don't have much time for that because the presidential election is looming," she said.
NETWORK-MAPPING PROJECT: The database contains 170 detailed files of Taiwanese politicians and about 23 million records of household registration data in Taiwan China has developed a network-mapping project targeting political figures and parties in Taiwan to monitor public opinion during elections and to craft tailored influence campaigns aimed at dividing Taiwanese society, according to documents leaked by Chinese technology firm GoLaxy (中科天璣). The documents, collected by Taipei-based Doublethink Lab, showed a database was specifically created to gather detailed information on Taiwanese political figures, including their political affiliations, job histories, birthplaces, residences, education, religion and a brief biography about them. Several notable Taiwanese politicians are in the database, including President William Lai (賴清德), former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍),
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
UPGRADED MISSILE: The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology is reportedly to conduct a live-fire test of the Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missile on Thursday next week The US Army is planning to build new facilities to boost explosives production and strengthen its supply chain, a move aimed at addressing munitions shortages and supporting obligations to partners including Taiwan, Ukraine and Israel, Defense News reported. The army has issued a sources sought notice for a proposed Center of Excellence at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky, the report said. The facility would serve as a hub within the US industrial base for the production of key military explosives, including research department explosives (RDX) and high melting explosives (HMX), while also supporting research and development of next-generation materials. The proposed
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
RSS