The race to become the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) next chairman heated up yesterday, with both Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) making moves to consolidate support.
Yesterday, Wang launched his first wave of campaign ads with front-page spreads in several local newspapers.
"The KMT needs Wang's courage, ability, intelligence and breadth of mind to win," the campaign ad said.
Speaking about his late campaign start, Wang told reporters while in Kaohsiung that although he began campaigning later than his competitor, he feels confident of victory. His comprehensive vision, ideals and plans for the party have helped him gain increasing support from party members, Wang said.
Getting a head-start, Ma began running campaigns ads at the end of last month, calling on supporters to sign petitions endorsing his campaign.
Ma spent the yesterday morning campaigning on the outlying island on Kinmen
Besides pledging to support the interests of Kinmen residents, Ma told supporters that independence was not an option for Taiwan.
"The party's chairman should attract young people and have a good public image. Even more important, [a KMT chairman] must be able to unite the pan-blue camp, stabilize cross-strait relations, oppose Taiwan's independence and help the KMT regain administrative power in 2008," Ma said.
While in Kinmen, Ma also said that he considered it important to expand the scope of the "small three links" in the interest of helping Taiwanese businesspeople in China.
The "small three links," which refer to shipping, postal and trade links between Taiwan's outlying islands - -- Kinmen and Matsu -- and China were established in 2001 in accordance with the Offshore Islands Development Act (離島建設條例). The act was passed in 2000 to boost the economies of the two islands.
What is convenient for Taiwanese businesspeople is not necessarily good for China; rather, it is good for us, Ma said, referring to the expansion of the links.
Ma also emphasized that if he is made KMT chairman, he will work to build up Kinmen's airports and harbors.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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