In reaction to the Taiwan Solidarity Union's (TSU) demand that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) concede campaign space in the year-end elections for city and county heads, DPP officials said yesterday that the TSU's attitude will not help its election chances or bring about an atmosphere of cooperation.
The DPP is expected to announce its nominations for the year-end elections today. Since last week, the TSU has been negotiating with the DPP to prevent it from nominating candidates in at least one or two counties in order to give the TSU candidates in those counties a chance. TSU Chairman Shu Chin-chiang's (
The TSU has said that if the DPP does not agree to the arrangement, the TSU will nominate former president Lee Teng-hui's (
The TSU's newly-appointed Secretary-General, Cheng Cheng-lung (
The DPP official responded that he did not mean to say anything to make the TSU feel bad or to spread rumors.
"Both the DPP and the TSU are focused on defending Taiwan's sovereignty and independence and are members of the pan-green camp," Cheng Wen-tsan said. "We believe it is the TSU's right to nominate its own candidates in the year-end elections, which the DPP will respect."
"However, when it comes to cooperation, a proper atmosphere and timing are indispensable," Cheng Wen-tsan said.
Cheng Wen-tsan said the DPP understood that the TSU wanted to negotiate an end to DPP-TSU competition, but that the DPP has its primary system, which it must respect.
"The TSU should not extend the battle lines without end," Cheng Wen-tsan added.
After DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (
"Patience will bear fruit. If you want to do the right thing you have to use the right way," Cheng Wen-tsan said. "I'm afraid that the TSU's plan would only be counterproductive ... The TSU may only infuriate DPP supporters and make them more united."
DPP secretary-general Lee Yi-yang (
Taiwan is to commence mass production of the Tien Kung (天弓, “Sky Bow”) III, IV and V missiles by the second quarter of this year if the legislature approves the government’s NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.78 billion) special defense budget, an official said yesterday. Commenting on condition of anonymity, a defense official with knowledge of the matter said that the advanced systems are expected to provide crucial capabilities against ballistic and cruise missiles for the proposed “T-Dome,” an advanced, multi-layered air defense network. The Tien Kung III is an air defense missile with a maximum interception altitude of 35km. The Tien Kung IV and V
The disruption of 941 flights in and out of Taiwan due to China’s large-scale military exercises was no accident, but rather the result of a “quasi-blockade” used to simulate creating the air and sea routes needed for an amphibious landing, a military expert said. The disruptions occurred on Tuesday and lasted about 10 hours as China conducted live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait. The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said the exercises affected 857 international flights and 84 domestic flights, affecting more than 100,000 travelers. Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), a research fellow at the government-sponsored Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said the air
A strong continental cold air mass is to bring pollutants to Taiwan from tomorrow, the Ministry of Environment said today, as it issued an “orange” air quality alert for most of the country. All of Taiwan except for Hualien and Taitung counties is to be under an “orange” air quality alert tomorrow, indicating air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. In China, areas from Shandong to Shanghai have been enveloped in haze since Saturday, the ministry said in a news release. Yesterday, hourly concentrations of PM2.5 in these areas ranged from 65 to 160 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m³), and pollutants were
Taiwan’s armed forces have established response protocols for a wide range of sudden contingencies, including the “Wan Chun Plan” to protect the head of state, the Ministry of Defense (MND) said today. After US President Donald Trump on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, concerns have been raised as to whether China would launch a similar “decapitation strike” on Taiwan. The armed forces regularly coordinate with relevant agencies and practice drills to ensure preparedness for a wide range of scenarios, Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) told reporters before a
RSS