Leading doctors yesterday affirmed the medical profession's traditional support for the pan-green camp, describing a recent pro-blue camp advertisement featuring former National Taiwan University (NTU) Hospital superintendent Yang Ssu-piao (
"NTU hospital has always been like a Democratic Progressive Party support community. I'd say the ratio of [President] Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) supporters to [Chinese Nationalist Party Chairman] Lien Chan (連戰) supporters is about nine to one," said Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.
The medical community has traditionally been viewed as a stronghold of the pan-green camp.
PHOTO: CHEN TSE-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
However, in the advertisement on the front page of Monday's edition of the Liberty Times, Yang wrote:
"The Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are both a part of China. They are not two separate countries, nor are they two countries on each side of the Taiwan Strait."
Yesterday, around 60 prominent members of the medical community, including Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance president Wu Shuh-min (
"If he paid for the advertisement himself, then I might be able to respect him a little more. However, I suspect that is not the case here," Twu said.
"I love my old teacher, but I love truth more," he said.
Twu also said that he spoke for the views of former DOH head Lee Ming-liang (李明亮), who was unable to attend.
While Yang's wife told reporters yesterday that he had shelled out a total of NT$200,000 for the advertisement, the Liberty Times advertising department said that the advertisement had been sold for NT$600,000.
"I wrote the open letter that was published in the newspaper because I have been very disappointed with the Chen administration these past four years," Yang said.
"I definitely did not take money from anyone to do this," he said.
He added that if Lien did not perform well in office it would be appropriate to support another candidate in the future.
But Yang's comments did not satisfy one medical professional.
"Yang is the medical community's equivalent of Buddhist Master Wei Chueh (
"And as such, I trust that his attempts will backfire just as they did for the monk," he said.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or
RSS