Senior officials of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday voiced support for Chairman Lien Chan's (
"We must at this time stand behind Lien. We must support Lien in his decision," said KMT Vice Chairman Vincent Siew (
It is customary in Taiwan's politics that party leaders resign following their party's defeat in major elections, as a gesture of taking responsibility for the loss.
But given that Lien has refused to concede defeat to President Chen Shui-bian (
"Lien's leadership should be maintained at this moment. We should not complicate the current situation further and make it more chaotic," said KMT Legislator John Chang (
Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Wang also took the opportunity to dismiss speculation that the pro-localization faction within the party would split from the KMT following the failure of Lien's second bid for the presidency.
"Why split when it is time we need more than ever to stay united," Wang told reporters before the committee meeting.
He is seen by many pan-blue supporters as the key representative of the pro-localization faction.
"Everyone must be loyal to the party," he said. "If it is within everyone's heart to be loyal and love the party, then we must more than ever unite at time like this. Any effort to split or drive a wedge would only harm the party."
Stressing that the pro-localization faction would not defect, KMT Legislator Hsu Chong-hsiung (徐中雄), a committee member known for his pro-localization image, also said the party must strengthen its pro-localization image in order to stay competitive.
In view of the year-end legislative election, Hu also suggested that the KMT, the People First Party and the New Party should merge.
"The opposition alliance can not afford to remain divided," Hsu said.
His call was echoed by other Central Standing Committee mem-bers including Chang and KMT Legislator Hou Tsai-feng (侯彩鳳).
Meanwhile, the KMT is mulling the idea of staging protests in different parts of the country after its march in Taipei on Saturday to emphasize their appeal for an immediate recount of the vote.
A crowd of pan-blue supporters has been demonstrating in front of the Presidential Office to demand a recount since before dawn on Sunday morning.
The protesters support the KMT-PFP alliance's claims that the election was unfair and the assassination attempt was suspicious.
The protesters have permission from the Taipei City Government to continue their demonstration on Katagalan Boulevard till 10pm Saturday.
"Whether or not to disband the protesting crowd in front of the Presidential Office will be decided based on how the government responds [to our appeals,]" said KMT spokesman Alex Tsai (蔡正元).
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
INCREASED CAPACITY: The flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays would leave Singapore in the morning and Taipei in the afternoon Singapore Airlines is adding four supplementary flights to Taipei per week until May to meet increased tourist and business travel demand, the carrier said on Friday. The addition would raise the number of weekly flights it operates to Taipei to 18, Singapore Airlines Taiwan general manager Timothy Ouyang (歐陽漢源) said. The airline has recorded a steady rise in tourist and business travel to and from Taipei, and aims to provide more flexible travel arrangements for passengers, said Ouyang, who assumed the post in July last year. From now until Saturday next week, four additional flights would depart from Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, Friday
The Ministry of National Defense yesterday reported the return of large-scale Chinese air force activities after their unexplained absence for more than two weeks, which had prompted speculation regarding Beijing’s motives. China usually sends fighter jets, drones and other military aircraft around the nation on a daily basis. Interruptions to such routine are generally caused by bad weather. The Ministry of National Defense said it had detected 26 Chinese military aircraft in the Taiwan Strait over the previous 24 hours. It last reported that many aircraft on Feb. 25, when it spotted 30 aircraft, saying Beijing was carrying out another “joint combat
Taiwan successfully defended its women’s 540 kilogram title and won its first-ever men’s 640 kg title at the 2026 World Indoor Tug of War Championships in Taipei yesterday. In the women’s event, Taiwan’s eight-person squad reached the final following a round-robin preliminary round and semifinals featuring teams from Ukraine, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Basque Country and South Korea. In the finals, they swept the Basque team 2-0, giving the team composed mainly of National Taiwan Normal University students and graduates its second championship in a row, and its fourth in five years. Team captain
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