Pan-blue supporters turned out yesterday for the 313 Rally in Kaohsiung at which Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) declared the election campaign virtually over.
"I believe that the result of the presidential election is almost certain even though there are still seven days to election day," Wang said to supporters in front of the pan-blue campaign headquarters in Kaohsiung City.
The pan-blues said 500,000 took part in the rally; Kaohsiung police put turnout at 200,000.
After pan-blue supporters marching from nine different starting points converged on the campaign headquarters, Wang delivered a speech citing 10 reasons to unseat President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), the main theme of the rally.
"It is time to change the president. It is time to show the will of the Taiwanese people. It is the only way to save Taiwan," Wang said amid the deafening noise made by participants' whistles and hooters.
After the rally ended, Wang commended KMT Chairman Lien Chan's (連戰) announcement that he will not continue to serve as KMT chairman were he elected.
The first two F-16V Bock 70 jets purchased from the US are expected to arrive in Taiwan around Double Ten National Day, which is on Oct. 10, a military source said yesterday. Of the 66 F-16V Block 70 jets purchased from the US, the first completed production in March, the source said, adding that since then three jets have been produced per month. Although there were reports of engine defects, the issue has been resolved, they said. After the jets arrive in Taiwan, they must first pass testing by the air force before they would officially become Taiwan’s property, they said. The air force
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