The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday denied rumors that the party is working to "clean house" by kicking out pro-localization members and others who have been seen frequently interacting with the pan-green camp.
Saying that the party had no such intention, KMT spokeswoman Kuo Su-chun (郭素春) yesterday dismissed the rumors as "another attempt by people who wish to make use of all their time to drive wedges among party members."
Kuo said that "Party Chairman Lien Chan (
"Chairman Lien is confident in all the party's members and legislators," Kuo said, saying that "the party right now has no intention of cleaning house, but only of staying united" in order to perform well in the year-end legislative elections.
The talk of "cleaning house" has come in the midst of mounting calls from members of the party's pro-localization faction who, in the wake of Lien's failure to win the presidential election, have urged the party to speed up reforms. The pro-localization faction has also expressed concern about Lien's proposal to merge the KMT with the People First Party.
While declining to name individuals, Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Legislator Lo Chih-ming (
Having been implicated in such remarks, pro-localization KMT members such as Legislators Chen Hung-chang (
"The idea has never crossed my mind," Hsu said.
Chang said that he had been asked by the TSU several times if he were willing to switch party membership.
"My leaving the KMT is very unlikely ? I'd rather be considered a black sheep within the KMT," Chang said.
Chang's remarks meshed with those of TSU caucus whip Chen Chien-ming (
Saying that he is sure that no one within the party wants to defect, Legislative Speaker and KMT Vice Chairman Wang Jin-pyng (
LOW RISK: Most nations do not extradite people accused of political crimes, and the UN says extradition can only happen if the act is a crime in both countries, an official said China yesterday issued wanted notices for two Taiwanese influencers, accusing them of committing “separatist acts” by criticizing Beijing, amid broadening concerns over China’s state-directed transnational repression. The Quanzhou Public Security Bureau in a notice posted online said police are offering a reward of up to 25,000 yuan (US$3,523) for information that could contribute to the investigation or apprehension of pro-Taiwanese independence YouTuber Wen Tzu-yu (溫子渝),who is known as Pa Chiung (八炯) online, and rapper Chen Po-yuan (陳柏源). Wen and Chen are suspected of spreading content that supported secession from China, slandered Chinese policies that benefit Taiwanese and discrimination against Chinese spouses of
ALIGNED THINKING: Taiwan and Japan have a mutual interest in trade, culture and engineering, and can work together for stability, Cho Jung-tai said Taiwan and Japan are two like-minded countries willing to work together to form a “safety barrier” in the Indo-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday said at the opening ceremony of the 35th Taiwan-Japan Modern Engineering and Technology Symposium in Taipei. Taiwan and Japan are close geographically and closer emotionally, he added. Citing the overflowing of a barrier lake in the Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) in September, Cho said the submersible water level sensors given by Japan during the disaster helped Taiwan monitor the lake’s water levels more accurately. Japan also provided a lot of vaccines early in the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic,
PROMOTION: Travelers who want a free stopover must book their flights with designated travel agents, such as Lion Travel, Holiday Tours, Cola Tour and Life Tours Air Canada yesterday said it is offering Taiwanese travelers who are headed to North America free stopovers if they transit though airports in Japan and South Korea. The promotion was launched in response to a potential rise in demand for flights to North America in June and July next year, when the US, Canada and Mexico are scheduled to jointly host the FIFA World Cup, Air Canada said. Air Canada offers services to 13 of the 16 host cities of the tournament’s soccer games, including Toronto and Vancouver; Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston; Dallas; Houston;
The US approved the possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet spare and repair parts for US$330 million, the Pentagon said late yesterday, marking the first such potential transaction since US President Donald Trump took office in January. "The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient's fleet of F-16, C-130," and other aircraft, the Pentagon said in a statement. Trump previously said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has told him he would not invade Taiwan while the Republican leader is in office. The announcement of the possible arms
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