President Chen Shui-bian (
Thousands of Tainan residents gathered in the streets to welcome the president. Tight security measures were in place, including Chen's wearing a bullet proof vest inside his jacket.
PHOTO: CHEN YI-MIN, TAIPEI TIMES
Upon arrival in Tainan County, he went to Fo-jui Temple (
In the wake of the shooting incident, the safety of the president was of the utmost importance. In order to ensure his safety, secret service agents formed a human chain to create a clear passage through the crowds for Chen. The president clasped both of this hands to show his appreciation to the people.
Along with his wife, Wu Shu-chen (吳淑珍), and mother, Li Shen (李慎), Chen headed out to Tsuochen Village (左鎮鄉) to pay homage to his late father-in-law, Wu Kun-chi (吳崑池). He also took part in a religious service at Huei-an Temple (惠安宮) in Kuantien township (官田鄉), where he grew up. The service symbolized the president's gratitude for the blessings bestowed upon him by his re-election.
The streets of Kuantien township were swamped with residents who hoped to meet the president. Chen decided to walk from the temple to his old house, which enabled him to shake hands with supporters and greet the crowds.
Chen promised the residents that in the next four years, he would strive for a stronger economy and turn Taiwan into a complete and beautiful nation of democracy.
In the evening, the president met Lin Chin-yi (
Although the March 19 shooting took place in the afternoon on a street in Tainan City, Chen's insistence on visiting Tainan as his first trip outside of Taipei signified his high respect for his hometown.
The visit was initially slated to take place on Saturday, but was postponed to yesterday due to bad weather.
"The President's Office announced that the home visits of both the president and the vice president would be unaffected by the shooting incident. Besides, the president would not be kept from interacting with the crowds," said Presidential Office spokesman James Huang (
DPP Legislator Gao Jyh-peng (
Being secluded in the Presidential Office for the past two weeks had been rather unexciting for Chen as well as his staff members, Gao said.
"Maybe the public would have thought that after the shooting, President Chen would not be traveling as much as he had in the past four years. Nevertheless, being the headstrong person he is, the president would not be affected by the shooting," Gao said.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong would likely strengthen into a typhoon later today as it continues moving westward across the Pacific before heading in Taiwan’s direction next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of 8am, Fung-Wong was about 2,190km east-southeast of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving westward at 25kph and possibly accelerating to 31kph, CWA data showed. The tropical storm is currently over waters east of the Philippines and still far from Taiwan, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said, adding that it could likely strengthen into a typhoon later in the day. It is forecast to reach the South China Sea
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
RSS