A key staff member in KMT presidential candidate Lien Chan's (
However, speech communication experts said the case was symptomatic of the last stage of a campaign filled with cursing and obscene language.
Lin Hsiang-nung (
"My language might be regarded as offensive to some, but this is not the case," Lin said at a press conference yesterday.
"In a cordial atmosphere, I blurted out an improper word inadvertently," said Lin, suggesting the "slang" he used was commonplace among the discussions he had with friends during post-quake reconstruction work.
Instead of calming many of those who had taken offense at the remark, Lin's apology was used by opposing candidates' camps to fuel even more controversy.
DPP women legislators Yeh Yi-jin (
As voting day approaches, sharp skirmishes between the candidates' camps have been intensified by the increasingly common use of obscene remarks.
Independent candidate James Soong (
Lien once teased DPP candidate Chen Shui-bian (
In addition, certain anti-James Soong (
Speech communication experts said that using such obscenities to attack opponents during campaign rallies might benefit those hurling the insults, but it is far from beneficial to the public reading about such activities later in newspapers.
"Political figures who use such language at rallies would probably prefer to take back those insults should they ever try some strategic thinking," said Yu Tzu-shiang (游梓翔), an associate professor at Shih Hsin University's department of speech communication.
"The insulting actions relayed by television can create a lasting negative impression on the viewing public," Yu said, adding that the audience might not "empathize" with those at the scene of such events, because second-hand reports often simplify the real situation.
Yu said that some candidates had proved themselves poor role models by acting improperly and bandying about obscenities at rallies.
"Bad language, like calling someone `wolf-hearted and dog-lunged' (
Even making jokes about other candidates' personalities can be damaging, he said.
"Children will be confused by such practices. Parents and schoolteachers would never tolerate such behavior," Yu said, referring to the fact that would-be leaders of Taiwan should at least try to be thinking about being role models for society.
It is a worrying trend, Yu said, as the use of cursing and sexual innuendo in the current campaign is a sure sign that social values in Taiwan are deteriorating.
The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is to tighten rules for candidates running for public office, requiring them to declare that they do not hold a Chinese household registration or passport, and that they possess no other foreign citizenship. The requirement was set out in a draft amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法 ) released by the ministry on Thursday. Under the proposal, candidates would need to make the declaration when submitting their registration forms, which would be published in the official election bulletin. The move follows the removal of several elected officials who were
FOUR DESIGNATED AREAS: Notices were issued for live-fire exercises in waters south and northwest of Penghu, northeast of Keelung and west of Kaohsiung, they said The military is planning three major annual exercises across the army, navy and air force this month, with the navy’s “Hai Chiang” (海強, “Sea Strong”) drills running from today through Thursday, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday. The Hai Chiang exercise, which is to take place in waters surrounding Taiwan, would feature P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and S-70C anti-submarine helicopters, the ministry said, adding that the drills aim to bolster the nation’s offshore defensive capabilities. China has intensified military and psychological pressure against Taiwan, repeatedly sending warplanes and vessels into areas near the nation’s air defense identification zone and across
SENATE RECOMMENDATION: The National Defense Authorization Act encourages the US secretary of defense to invite Taiwan’s navy to participate in the exercises in Hawaii The US Senate on Thursday last week passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, which strongly encourages the US secretary of defense to invite Taiwan’s naval forces to participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, as well as allocating military aid of US$1 billion for Taiwan. The bill, which authorizes appropriations for the military activities of the US Department of Defense, military construction and other purposes, passed with 77 votes in support and 20 against. While the NDAA authorizes about US$925 billion of defense spending, the Central News Agency yesterday reported that an aide of US
NATIONAL DAY: The ‘Taiwan Dome’ would form the centerpiece of new efforts to bolster air defense and be modeled after Israel’s ‘Iron Dome,’ sources said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday pledged to strengthen the nation’s air defense capabilities and build a “T-Dome” system to create a safety net against growing military threats from China. “We will accelerate our building of the T-Dome, establish a rigorous air defense system in Taiwan with multi-layered defense, high-level detection and effective interception, and weave a safety net for Taiwan to protect the lives and property of citizens,” he said in his National Day address. In his keynote address marking the Republic of China’s (ROC) 114th anniversary, Lai said the lessons of World War II have taught nations worldwide “to ensure that