After all the fuss about finding a nominee, the KMT central standing committee yesterday unanimously agreed to draft its chief of the party's Yunlin County branch, Chang Cheng-hsiung (
In assessing the nomination process, however, critics said it was pathetic to see the KMT having difficulty fielding a candidate.
Although few party colleagues are not optimistic about Chang's chances of winning the by-election, as evidenced by the fact that few congratulated him on his nomination, Chang seems confidant about his chances.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
"The KMT is like a huge aircraft carrier. It may take longer to refuel than smaller craft, but once it gets going, the momentum is frightening,'' Chang said.
Following the refusal by Taipei District Court Judge Wang Pei-chih (
"I had no intention of taking part in the by-election, but as I have been nominated by the party, I will do my best to win,'' Chang said.
KMT legislator Hou Hui-hsien (
"It grieves me to see that the KMT has to come down to drafting the Yunlin county party branch chairman. I am pessimistic about the outcome,'' Hou added.
KMT legislator and local faction leader from the county, Liao Hwu-peng (
"I am afraid that the by-election could further damage the KMT in next year's presidential election,'' Liao added.
Julian Kuo (
"The Yunlin county by-election has become a skirmish in the developing presidential battle. On the surface, the KMT wants to appoint a candidate without Chang Jung-wei's mafia-like image. But under the table, it wants to pull Chang away from Soong's side by nominating a comparatively weak candidate,'' Kuo said.
"KMT headquarters is trying to earn points for its image and gain political advantage at the same time. If it fails to achieve its goal, it may find itself stuck in a deadlock,'' Kuo said.
One of two tropical depressions that formed off Taiwan yesterday morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. The weather system is expected to move northwest as it builds momentum, possibly intensifying this weekend into a typhoon, which would be called Mitag, Lee said. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is forecast to approach the southeast of Taiwan on Monday next week and pass through the Bashi Channel
WARNING: People in coastal areas need to beware of heavy swells and strong winds, and those in mountainous areas should brace for heavy rain, the CWA said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday issued sea and land warnings for Typhoon Ragasa, forecasting that it would continue to intensify and affect the nation the most today and tomorrow. People in Hualien and Taitung counties, and mountainous areas in Yilan and Pingtung counties, should brace for damage caused by extremely heavy rain brought by the typhoon’s outer rim, as it was upgraded to a super typhoon yesterday morning, the CWA said. As of 5:30pm yesterday, the storm’s center was about 630km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, moving northwest at 21kph, and its maximum wind speed had reached
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said that it expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Ragasa this morning and a land warning at night as it approached Taiwan. Ragasa intensified from a tropical storm into a typhoon at 8am yesterday, the CWA said, adding that at 2pm, it was about 1,110km east-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip. The typhoon was moving northwest at 13kph, with sustained winds of up to 119kph and gusts reaching 155kph, the CWA Web site showed. Forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said that Ragasa was projected to strengthen as it neared the Bashi Channel, with its 200km
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: Hualien and Taitung counties declared today a typhoon day, while schools and offices in parts of Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties are also to close Typhoon Ragasa was forecast to hit its peak strength and come closest to Taiwan from yesterday afternoon through today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Taiwan proper could be out of the typhoon’s radius by midday and the sea warning might be lifted tonight, it added. CWA senior weather specialist Wu Wan-hua (伍婉華) said that Ragasa’s radius had reached the Hengchun Peninsula by 11am yesterday and was expected to hit Taitung County and Kaohsiung by yesterday evening. Ragasa was forecast to move to Taiwan’s southern offshore areas last night and to its southwestern offshore areas early today, she added. As of 8pm last night,
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