Since the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) only nominated two candidates so far to run in the year-end elections, TSU Chairman Shu Chin-chiang (
The TSU yesterday held an education seminar, attended by 52 possible candidates, on campaigning strategies for the year-end elections. The party's spiritual leader, former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), arrived at the venue in the late afternoon to encourage the candidates to work hard for victory in the "life-and-death" elections.
The TSU has been "declaring war" against the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) over the past two months and vowed to spoil the DPP's election outcome with surplus nominations. However, owing to its fledgling local network and lack of adequate candidates, the TSU has only nominated two candidates so far in the commissioner and mayoral elections -- former party secretary-general Chen Chien-ming (
PHOTO: CHEN TSE-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
Forty-eight candidates will run for seats on city and county councils and two will run for local township chief positions.
Shu, who originally planned to campaign in the Yunlin County Commissioner election but withdrew from the race, said that he decided to stand back because he has to pay attention to the overall election condition as the party's campaign commander.
After visiting local party chapters around the country, Shu said that he found most of the people living in south Taiwan are generally unsatisfied with their local governments' infrastructure and economic policies. "Therefore, the TSU candidates here have to be attentive to voters' needs and respond to their wishes in terms of these aspects," Shu told the nominees.
He also encouraged candidates to highlight issues affecting people's livelihoods as their election platforms. He said that the TSU will arrange for Lee to campaign for all the party's candidates -- his health permitting.
"We will let the people of Taiwan realize that the TSU is still growing strong and sturdy and is not yet dying out, as some media have been suggesting," Shu said. "These elections will be an important foundation for the legislative elections in 2007 and we have to stand out."
Compared to the ruling DPP, Shu said that the TSU seemed to have "disappeared from the scene" and enjoyed little media coverage.
He said, however, that this could be because DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (
Meanwhile, Lee told the candidates that there is only one secret for success in the election -- "hard work."
"Voters will recognize your efforts if you show them your real passion and ambition," he said.
Lee also said that if the TSU performs well in the year-end elections, the party will nominate its candidates for the Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral elections in 2006 to challenge the DPP.
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
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
RSS