Controversial Democratic Pro-gressive Party (DPP) Legislator Shen Fu-hsiung (
Shen was speaking during the launch of his book Always Upbeat: The Elated Life of an Outspoken Man yesterday. He suggests in the book that although he has suffered from myocardial infarction, his abilities would be not be beneath those of his competitors in any mayoral race.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
Shen did not explicitly say that he would run for mayor, but he did dismiss speculation about the state of his health in the book.
"Citizens of Taipei City, are you casting votes based on a candidate's electrocardiogram and ultrasound or his capabilities?" he writes.
He expressed confidence in the way he had handled a dispute with TV talkshow host Wang Ben-hu (汪笨湖) in recent weeks by saying that his actions would be judged by voters in his Taipei electorate in December's legislative election.
"I will minimize my campaign activities, and would those DPP supporters who still cannot forgive me after reading this book please transfer their votes to other DPP candidates in my constituency," Shen said.
Shen also recited a poem he wrote recently to say that he had turned cold toward politics and the recent spat with Wang that had resulted in daily tit-for-tat attacks in the media.
"The heart is dead/The blood has turned cold/I cannot cure Mother Taiwan's illness/I don't want to either/Wave goodbye to the life which had been "always upbeat"/Spend the rest of my years "no longer upbeat"/Dying in action like Don Quixote/The horse hide to wrap my corpse is not ready/But I have already fallen," the poem read.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
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