President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) stressed his tough stance against "black-gold" politics yesterday, saying his administration would not tolerate any gangsters in the political arena.
"The best way to achieve this goal is by barring gangsters from running for office. If they do run, [people] should not vote for them so they won't get elected.
"Even if they are elected, [the government] won't allow them to continue their evil doings," Chen said in Changhua County, receiving enthusiastic applause from tens of thousands of supporters at a DPP campaign rally.
Speaking in the agricultural county last night, Chen also urged farmers to upgrade their technology in light of Taiwan's WTO accession, which he said would hurt the country's farming population.
He said, however, that farmers could use the opportunity to improve Taiwan's agricultural competitiveness.
Chen said that in the long run, the country's international competitiveness will be greatly improved following WTO accession. The Council of Agriculture had previously estimated that roughly 43,000 people would be forced to quit their farming careers following WTO admission.
The DPP will be represented in the agricultural area by Wong Chin-chu (
Continuing his intense campaign tour, Chen yesterday also appeared in central Taichung County and northern Taipei.
In the morning, Chen attended a campaign rally organized by the party's Aboriginal candidate, Chen Yi-hsin (
"As long as the DPP garners two seats, the needs of Aboriginal groups can be fully voiced and heard," Chen told the crowd.
Other DPP heavyweights -- including Vice President Annette Lu (
While stumping for mayoral candidate Michael Tsai (
Meanwhile, Hsieh, on the island of Kinmen yesterday, lashed out at opposition parties, saying they did nothing but criticize the president. Defending Chen, Hsieh called rival parties "mentally unhealthy" and said that they have scared foreign investors out of the country, further jeopardizing Taiwan's economic position.
NEXT GENERATION: The four plants in the Central Taiwan Science Park, designated Fab 25, would consist of four 1.4-nanometer wafer manufacturing plants, TSMC said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) plans to begin construction of four new plants later this year, with the aim to officially launch production of 2-nanometer semiconductor wafers by late 2028, Central Taiwan Science Park Bureau director-general Hsu Maw-shin (許茂新) said. Hsu made the announcement at an event on Friday evening celebrating the Central Taiwan Science Park’s 22nd anniversary. The second phase of the park’s expansion would commence with the initial construction of water detention ponds and other structures aimed at soil and water conservation, Hsu said. TSMC has officially leased the land, with the Central Taiwan Science Park having handed over the
AUKUS: The Australian Ambassador to the US said his country is working with the Pentagon and he is confident that submarine issues will be resolved Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd on Friday said that if Taiwan were to fall to China’s occupation, it would unleash China’s military capacities and capabilities more broadly. He also said his country is working with the Pentagon on the US Department of Defense’s review of the AUKUS submarine project and is confident that all issues raised will be resolved. Rudd, who served as Australian prime minister from 2007 to 2010 and for three months in 2013, made the remarks at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado and stressed the longstanding US-Australia alliance and his close relationship with the US Undersecretary
‘WORLD WAR III’: Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said the aid would inflame tensions, but her amendment was rejected 421 votes against six The US House of Representatives on Friday passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal 2026, which includes US$500 million for Taiwan. The bill, which totals US$831.5 billion in discretionary spending, passed in a 221-209 vote. According to the bill, the funds for Taiwan would be administered by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency and would remain available through Sept. 30, 2027, for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative. The legislation authorizes the US Secretary of Defense, with the agreement of the US Secretary of State, to use the funds to assist Taiwan in procuring defense articles and services, and military training. Republican Representative
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