A group of young Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) members yesterday called on the party to nominate legislative candidates democratically, rather than by means of negotiation.
"Since the party has a primary system, the party should [use it] and not ... wipe away young people's opportunity to participate," said Chang Zu-kang (
The KMT's Central Standing Committee announced this week that primaries would not be held in 10 constituencies because of various factors, including pending negotiations with the People First Party (PFP) and an insufficient number of nominated candidates. The constituencies without primaries are Kaohsiung and Chiayi cities and Hsinchu, Miaoli, Tai-chung, Changhua, Chiayi, Penghu, Kinmen and Lienchiang counties.
Constituencies which have thus far decided to hold primaries are Taipei City, which will hold its primary on the 18th of next month; and Taichung City, with its primary slated to go ahead on the 9th of next month.
The 567 Alliance yesterday also suggested that the party emphasize reform and professionalism when choosing candidates for its list of legislators-at-large.
Calling on the party to integrate all opposition forces, alliance members urged the party leadership to step up reforms.
"The party should engage in full reform and thoroughly become a modern political party that is in tune with the public," Chang said at a news conference in the lobby of the KMT's Taipei headquarters.
The group then took aim at the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), accusing the ruling party of backing out of its commitment to the pursuit of democracy, adding that the DPP administration was rewarding staunch supporters of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) with government posts.
At yesterday's media conference, the alliance also took the opportunity to promote the candidacies of its members who are seeking nomination for the December legislative elections.
They include party spokesman Justin Chou (
The manufacture of the remaining 28 M1A2T Abrams tanks Taiwan purchased from the US has recently been completed, and they are expected to be delivered within the next one to two months, a source said yesterday. The Ministry of National Defense is arranging cargo ships to transport the tanks to Taiwan as soon as possible, said the source, who is familiar with the matter. The estimated arrival time ranges from late this month to early next month, the source said. The 28 Abrams tanks make up the third and final batch of a total of 108 tanks, valued at about NT$40.5 billion
Travel agencies in Taiwan are working to secure alternative flights for travelers bound for New Zealand for the Lunar New Year holiday, as Air New Zealand workers are set to strike next week. The airline said that it has confirmed that the planned industrial action by its international wide-body cabin crew would go ahead on Thursday and Friday next week. While the Auckland-based carrier pledged to take reasonable measures to mitigate the impact of the workers’ strike, an Air New Zealand flight arriving at Taipei from Auckland on Thursday and another flight departing from Taipei for Auckland on Saturday would have to
A group from the Taiwanese Designers in Australia association yesterday represented Taiwan at the Midsumma Pride March in Melbourne. The march, held in the St. Kilda suburb, is the city’s largest LGBTQIA+ parade and the flagship event of the annual Midsumma Festival. It attracted more than 45,000 spectators who supported the 400 groups and 10,000 marchers that participated this year, the association said. Taiwanese Designers said they organized a team to march for Taiwan this year, joining politicians, government agencies, professionals and community organizations in showing support for LGBTQIA+ people and diverse communities. As the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex
MOTIVES QUESTIONED The PLA considers Xi’s policies toward Taiwan to be driven by personal considerations rather than military assessment, the Epoch Times reports Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) latest purge of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) leadership might have been prompted by the military’s opposition to plans of invading Taiwan, the Epoch Times said. The Chinese military opposes waging war against Taiwan by a large consensus, putting it at odds with Xi’s vision, the Falun Gong-affiliated daily said in a report on Thursday, citing anonymous sources with insight into the PLA’s inner workings. The opposition is not the opinion of a few generals, but a widely shared view among the PLA cadre, the Epoch Times cited them as saying. “Chinese forces know full well that
RSS