Independent presidential candidate James Soong (
Soong handed campaign flags to the Soong's Friends Association's Taipei city branch at the rally, which bore the theme "fighting for Taiwan's future" (打拚為台灣). The rally attracted more than 10,000 people.
The campaign rally was only the second held by Soong, the first one having taken place over three months ago on Aug. 14. The rally indicates that Soong is turning his full attention to the presidential campaign battlefield after his dismissal last week from the KMT.
Soong delivered an hour-long speech, mostly focusing on the significance of his notion of "nonpartisan ideals."
"If we want to have healthy politics, first we must have a healthy party. But take a look at our ruling KMT or the opposition DPP. Have they met people's expectations?'' Soong asked, to loud cheers from supporters.
"I do not deny that the KMT has made great contributions to our society. But as we can all see now, the KMT is unfortunately on the decline, a victim of its own vision,'' Soong said.
Moreover, Soong defined "nonpartisan" government as being based on three concepts: recruiting elites to the government without regard to party identity, placing Taiwan's interests as the government's first priority when debating the unification/independence controversy, and applying the most suitable policies for people, regardless of party ideology.
In an attempt to appeal to Kaohsiung voters earlier in the day, Soong told supporters there that not only his wife, Chen Wan-shui (
"Both attest to special feelings for Kaohsiung, so I can promise that once we are elected, I will send Chang to review development in Kaohsiung every month,'' Soong said at the rally.
As Soong geared up for the presidential race after his expulsion from the KMT on Nov. 17, officials at KMT headquarters insisted its members draw a clear line "between friends and enemies" and launched an aggressive campaign against Soong's camp to protect the regime.
Among KMT heavyweights being courted by both sides is current senior advisor to the Presidential Office Wu Poh-hsiung (
In light of Wu's Nov. 11 announcement that he would "not likely campaign for vice president Lien Chan (
And today, both president Lee Teng-hui (
RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
CHINA REACTS: The patrol and reconnaissance plane ‘transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,’ the 7th Fleet said, while Taipei said it saw nothing unusual The US 7th Fleet yesterday said that a US Navy P-8A Poseidon flew through the Taiwan Strait, a day after US and Chinese defense heads held their first talks since November 2022 in an effort to reduce regional tensions. The patrol and reconnaissance plane “transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,” the 7th Fleet said in a news release. “By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations.” In a separate statement, the Ministry of National Defense said that it monitored nearby waters and airspace as the aircraft
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source