A proposed KMT-DPP coalition after the Dec. 1 elections will not have an impact on the performance of the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) in the polls, according to a TSU spokesman.
Shu Chin-chiang (蘇進強), secretary-general of the party, said yesterday that "the localization line" is one of the TSU's major policy platforms and the party welcomes anyone sharing common beliefs to echo that principle.
But he claimed that the KMT-DPP cooperation scheme proposed by two KMT candidates would not steal votes from the TSU, which is best known for its appeals based on localization.
Discussion over the possibility of a KMT-DPP alliance after the elections surfaced once again in the past several days after two pro-localization KMT candidates from Taipei -- Legislator Chen Horng-chi (陳鴻基) and Taipei City Councilor Chen Hsueh-fen (陳雪芬) -- publicly promoted the suggestion on Monday.
Their suggestion has been interpreted as a move to bring the struggle over the KMT's party line to the surface and has fueled speculation that the two KMT candidates are attempting to court votes from TSU supporters.
"Localization, democratization and pro-Taiwan are the three fundamental principles of the TSU. This kind of struggle, therefore, won't become an issue for us," Shu said.
The TSU secretary-general said his party is firm and clear about its platform.
"We will not be ambiguous about our claim, but nor will we utilize this calling to ignite ethnic tension or restrict other parties from resorting to the same calls [for localization]," Shu said.
Shu then expressed disapproval over another proposal put forward by Yok Mu-ming (郁慕明), a New Party legislative candidate in Taipei City. Yok suggested that a coalition be formed among the KMT, PFP and New Party after the Dec. 1 elections.
"If the suggestion is adopted, the president will face another recall crisis," Shu said.
Last November, the KMT, PFP and New Party formed a coalition alliance to launch a recall motion against President Chen Shui-bian (
Taiwan is projected to lose a working-age population of about 6.67 million people in two waves of retirement in the coming years, as the nation confronts accelerating demographic decline and a shortage of younger workers to take their place, the Ministry of the Interior said. Taiwan experienced its largest baby boom between 1958 and 1966, when the population grew by 3.78 million, followed by a second surge of 2.89 million between 1976 and 1982, ministry data showed. In 2023, the first of those baby boom generations — those born in the late 1950s and early 1960s — began to enter retirement, triggering
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
NO CHANGE: The TRA makes clear that the US does not consider the status of Taiwan to have been determined by WWII-era documents, a former AIT deputy director said The American Institute in Taiwan’s (AIT) comments that World War-II era documents do not determine Taiwan’s political status accurately conveyed the US’ stance, the US Department of State said. An AIT spokesperson on Saturday said that a Chinese official mischaracterized World War II-era documents as stating that Taiwan was ceded to the China. The remarks from the US’ de facto embassy in Taiwan drew criticism from the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, whose director said the comments put Taiwan in danger. The Chinese-language United Daily News yesterday reported that a US State Department spokesperson confirmed the AIT’s position. They added that the US would continue to
The number of Chinese spouses applying for dependent residency as well as long-term residency in Taiwan has decreased, the Mainland Affairs Council said yesterday, adding that the reduction of Chinese spouses staying or living in Taiwan is only one facet reflecting the general decrease in the number of people willing to get married in Taiwan. The number of Chinese spouses applying for dependent residency last year was 7,123, down by 2,931, or 29.15 percent, from the previous year. The same census showed that the number of Chinese spouses applying for long-term residency and receiving approval last year stood at 2,973, down 1,520,