President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday registered as a candidate in the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) presidential primary, saying that Taiwan and the party need her.
Tsai said that she is seeking re-election because she believes the DPP and Taiwan need her, not “despite Beijing’s opposition,” as her critics have said.
She made the remarks to reporters at the party’s headquarters in Taipei hours before she departed for an eight-day state visit to Palau, Nauru and the Marshall Islands.
Photo: Peter Lo, Taipei Times
Tsai, who stepped down as DPP chairperson on election night last year after the party’s losses in the Nov. 24 local elections, said she believes a candidate must fulfill three requirements to become president:
First, the candidate must be familiar with international affairs and capable of dealing with different groups, politicians and representatives, she said.
Taiwan faces external threats and pressure, as well as challenges from within, so it must strengthen its connection with the international community and with nations that share similar values, she said.
Second, the candidate must be able to withstand pressure and criticism as they tackle problems that those in power have avoided for too long, she said.
Those in power need to take up the responsibility of handling problems that have prevented society from progressing, Tsai said, adding that many people would oppose the changes caused by reform, but the president must let neither praise nor criticism affect them.
Third, a president must be “not only a star player ... but also a good captain,” and deal with even the most ordinary of tasks, she said.
Taiwan needs a candidate who can unite the DPP, as well as like-minded groups in society, she said.
Tsai said she believes she fulfills all three requirements.
Former premier William Lai (賴清德), who on Monday entered the DPP race, said on Wednesday that he would suspend campaign activities until Tsai returns from her trip on Thursday next week.
Tsai said that while she appreciates Lai’s intention, it is unnecessary.
Since the primary process is short, Lai should use the time to communicate with the public about why he is running, she said.
Tsai also said it was too early to discuss the possibility of her and Lai running on the same ticket as president and vice president.
Asked whether she would support Lai if he wins the primary, Tsai said that her focus at the moment is on winning.
The DPP is expected to nominate a presidential candidate by middle of next month, DPP Chairman Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said.
The Central Election Commission on Tuesday announced that the presidential and legislative elections are to be held on Jan. 11 next year.
Nvidia Corp yesterday unveiled its new high-speed interconnect technology, NVLink Fusion, with Taiwanese application-specific IC (ASIC) designers Alchip Technologies Ltd (世芯) and MediaTek Inc (聯發科) among the first to adopt the technology to help build semi-custom artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure for hyperscalers. Nvidia has opened its technology to outside users, as hyperscalers and cloud service providers are building their own cost-effective AI chips, or accelerators, used in AI servers by leveraging ASIC firms’ designing capabilities to reduce their dependence on Nvidia. Previously, NVLink technology was only available for Nvidia’s own AI platform. “NVLink Fusion opens Nvidia’s AI platform and rich ecosystem for
WARNING: From Jan. 1 last year to the end of last month, 89 Taiwanese have gone missing or been detained in China, the MAC said, urging people to carefully consider travel to China Lax enforcement had made virtually moot regulations banning civil servants from making unauthorized visits to China, the Control Yuan said yesterday. Several agencies allowed personnel to travel to China after they submitted explanations for the trip written using artificial intelligence or provided no reason at all, the Control Yuan said in a statement, following an investigation headed by Control Yuan member Lin Wen-cheng (林文程). The probe identified 318 civil servants who traveled to China without permission in the past 10 years, but the true number could be close to 1,000, the Control Yuan said. The public employees investigated were not engaged in national
CAUSE AND EFFECT: China’s policies prompted the US to increase its presence in the Indo-Pacific, and Beijing should consider if this outcome is in its best interests, Lai said China has been escalating its military and political pressure on Taiwan for many years, but should reflect on this strategy and think about what is really in its best interest, President William Lai (賴清德) said. Lai made the remark in a YouTube interview with Mindi World News that was broadcast on Saturday, ahead of the first anniversary of his presidential inauguration tomorrow. The US has clearly stated that China is its biggest challenge and threat, with US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth repeatedly saying that the US should increase its forces in the Indo-Pacific region
ALL TOGETHER: Only by including Taiwan can the WHA fully exemplify its commitment to ‘One World for Health,’ the representative offices of eight nations in Taiwan said The representative offices in Taiwan of eight nations yesterday issued a joint statement reiterating their support for Taiwan’s meaningful engagement with the WHO and for Taipei’s participation as an observer at the World Health Assembly (WHA). The joint statement came as Taiwan has not received an invitation to this year’s WHA, which started yesterday and runs until Tuesday next week. This year’s meeting of the decisionmaking body of the WHO in Geneva, Switzerland, would be the ninth consecutive year Taiwan has been excluded. The eight offices, which reaffirmed their support for Taiwan, are the British Office Taipei, the Australian Office Taipei, the
RSS