A new round of controversy has arisen over the past two days as the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the People First Party (PFP) have voiced differing opinions on a possible merger.
A local Chinese-language daily reported yesterday that the PFP intended to delay the merger due to strong opposition from PFP Vice Chairman Chang Chao-hsiung (
Nonetheless, the KMT headquarters two days ago approved an amendment to its party constitution that eliminated a regulation stipulating that members who have been disciplined and whose party memberships have been rescinded cannot run for the party's chairmanship or central standing committee membership.
The amendment would allow James Soong (宋楚瑜) to return to the KMT and with full membership rights.
The amendment must be passed by the party congress to come into effect.
The PFP, reacting media reports about tensions, yesterday denied that there had been any opposition to the merger.
PFP Legislator Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄), the party's caucus whip for the next legislative session, said that the PFP was happy to see cooperation between the parties and that the PFP had been putting a lot of effort into cooperation.
"Ever since the presidential election, the PFP has been working to unite the parties and build smooth cooperation, and this has been witnessed by many. I can't figure out why our allied party would release false information [that Chang opposes a merger] when [Soong] is not in the country," Liu said.
"Everyone is working for the good of the alliance, and I hope those who are broadcasting false information can spare us," Liu said.
Chang also said yesterday that he supported cooperation between the KMT and the PFP fully.
"But the KMT first has to eliminate [former president] Lee Teng-hui's (
But KMT members were not optimistic yesterday about a merger happening soon.
KMT Legislator Huang Teh-fu (黃德福), the party's caucus whip for the next legislative session, said that the amendment to the party constitution and the merger plan had to be ratified by the interim party congress, which could only be held when relations between the KMT and the PFP were good.
"But this is not likely to happen before the legislative elections," Huang said.
Another top KMT official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, also said that the merger was something better discussed after the legislative elections.
But Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
Ma said that the merger of the KMT and PFP was a necessary step for the pan-blue camp if it wants to make a comeback, according to KMT's recent poll.
"Over 66 percent of the pan-blue camp's grassroots supporters demand that the KMT merge with the PFP," Ma said yesterday after the KMT standing committee meeting.
"Although some party members have voiced different opinions on this issue, we [in the KMT] have never stopped trying to facilitate a union between the two parties."
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
Shih Hsin University President Chen Ching-he (陳清河) yesterday issued a public apology for comments made in his commencement speech last week, stating that he has asked the school to suspend his duties and halt his wages for two months as a show of contrition. At the commencement ceremony on May 30, Chen said, “If you don’t manage your time well, or your own emotions, or your health, then I am telling every one of you — put a quick end to ‘you,’ because the world has no need for ‘you.’” The comments have sparked significant controversy online, and Chen through an open
RSS