The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday announced President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) nomination as the party’s presidential candidate, and Ma pledged to defend the nation’s sovereignty and to prioritize the public interest, revive the economy and pursue cross-strait exchanges.
“I, as well as the majority of the public, have defended the Republic of China Constitution, Taiwan’s sovereignty and people’s well-being,” Ma said at KMT headquarters as he accepted the nomination.
“Some people have labeled me a pro-China leader who would sell out Taiwan, but everyone can see that every agreement we have signed with China has been reached in a transparent manner, and [every agreement] benefits Taiwan’s interests. Not one inch of Taiwan’s sovereignty has been sacrificed,” he said.
Amid chants from KMT Central Standing Committee members calling for “victory for President Ma Ying-jeou,” the president accused the former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government of failing to defend the nation’s dignity and the public interest and touted his administration for more than doubling the number of countries that grant Taiwan visa-free entry from 53 to 113 and gaining entry to the World Health Assembly (WHA) since 2009.
“I think it’s pretty clear which administration has defended Taiwan’s sovereignty and protected the nation’s dignity,” he said.
Shouting his campaign slogan with both hands held high, Ma promised to further revive the country’s economy and to continue anti-corruption reforms.
Ma, 61, will campaign under the slogan “Keep on walking, Taiwan. Victory for Taiwan.” He will set up his campaign office later this month, with his top aide, former KMT -secretary-general King Pu-tsung (金溥聰), serving as campaign manager.
The KMT’s nomination of Ma came one week earlier than scheduled, on the same day the DPP announced official poll results -confirming that former vice premier Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) will represent the party in next year’s presidential election.
The DPP will formally announce Tsai’s nomination next week.
KMT spokesman Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) said the KMT respected the DPP’s poll results, but urged the DPP to refrain from engaging in negative campaigning.
“We are concerned about the negative campaign strategies used in the DPP’s presidential primary. I urge the DPP to refrain from engaging in the same negative campaigning during the presidential election,” he said.
The KMT will hold its national congress in June alongside a large-scale campaign rally for Ma and his running mate.
At a separate setting yesterday, KMT Legislator Ho Tsai-feng (侯彩鳳) of Greater Kaohsiung suggested that Ma select Council of Labor Affairs Minister Jennifer Wang (王如玄) as his vice presidential running mate. Chiayi Mayor Huang Min-hui (黃敏惠) was also rumored to be a possible candidate, Ho said.
Approached for comment, Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義), who has also been widely touted as a possible running mate, said he was in no position to offer an opinion because it was the presidential candidate’s right and responsibility to pick his deputy.
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