President Chen Shui-bian (
"Every Taiwanese person has the obligation and right to express his or her voice at the crucial moment -- the presidential election and Taiwan's first ever referendum -- and we must let the international community understand our stance: Taiwan does not want missiles, we want to say `No' to China," Lee said during a rally last night in Taichuang County.
`ridiculous'
"While we advocate opposing China's missiles and military threats, they [the pan-blue camp] just advocate opposing the referendum," Lee said.
Lee also said the most ridiculous part of the campaign is that the heads of the "black gold" faction, the Chinese Nationalist Party's [KMT] Chairman Lien Chan (
"Can you believe it?" Lee said.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) held huge campaign rallies last night in central Taiwan, including Taichung and Changhua counties.
Lee and Chen joined together to urge voters to make the referendum a success and re-elect Chen, bringing the rally to a climax.
Many DPP grassroots politicians reminded the public that since Chen took power in 2000, his government has made extraordinary achievements in improving the infrastructure of the greater Taichung area, something which the former KMT government failed to achieve during its decades in power.
Urging voters not to be affected by fugitive tycoon Chen Yu-hao's (
"Chen Yu-hao has become the pan-blue camp's top weapon. It is unbelievable that the KMT uses this fugitive, who left hundreds of millions of dallars of debt in Taiwan and stole money to invest in China, as its campaign manager," said DPP Legislator Lin Feng-his (
COUNTERATTACK
"We must appeal to Taiwanese people that Taiwan's democracy must win, now the country can never allow the return of `black gold,'" President Chen said last night.
He stressed that Chen Yu-hao's accusations against his family were just a counterattack by "black gold" culprits who expect a KMT victory to help them escape punishments.
"This is the cost that we pay to eradicate black gold," Chen said.
Earlier yesterday, Chen lead a motorcade rally through Pingtung County. Standing in the back of a jeep, Chen was greeted by enthusiastic supporters who waved green flags and placards along the roads and received the hails of "A-Bian, get elected."
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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