In a bid to facilitate unity in the pan-green camp for the year-end elections of local government chiefs, the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) nominee for the Keelung mayoral election, Wang Tuoh (
"Seeing that the pan-green camp's disunity in Keelung City has decreased the chances of Keelung City's progress and reform, and in order not to let Keelung residents down, I have decided to drop out of the year-end election and let pan-green supporters have an easier selection," Wang said.
"From now, my campaign activities in Keelung will stop and hopefully voters will shift their support to Chen," Wang said.
PHOTO: CHEN TSE-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
Accompanied by DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (
The DPP and the TSU have for months quarreled and traded barbs over the candidacy for Keelung mayoral election.
The TSU asked the DPP not to nominate a candidate in the city, while the DPP insisted on nominating Wang to counter Chen Chien-ming.
Shu yesterday said that Wang's withdrawal from the election was an important beginning for the DPP and the TSU and he believed it could be a cornerstone for continued cooperation.
"During our visit to Central America, President Chen told us that the progress of Taiwan's democracy relies on Taiwan's unity," Shu said. "Chairman Su and I totally agreed with the president's words and decided to work on this goal."
Su echoed the TSU leader's opinion, saying that unity is the only way for the pan-green camp to have a sustainable existence.
Shu added that Liu Yi-teh (
Meanwhile, in the pan-blue camp, Taitung County Council Speaker Wu Chun-li (吳俊立) yesterday announced that he would not accept the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) recommendation to be its candidate and will instead campaign for county commissionership as an independent.
Wu said his decision was intended to protect the KMT's opponents from attacking the party over reform.
Wu was found guilty of violating the Statute for the Punishment of Corruption (
LOOKING NORTH: The base would enhance the military’s awareness of activities in the Bashi Channel, which China Coast Guard ships have been frequenting, an expert said The Philippine Navy on Thursday last week inaugurated a forward operating base in the country’s northern most province of Batanes, which at 185km from Taiwan would be strategically important in a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Northern Luzon Command Commander Lieutenant General Fernyl Buca as saying that the base in Mahatao would bolster the country’s northern defenses and response capabilities. The base is also a response to the “irregular presence this month of armed” of China Coast Guard vessels frequenting the Bashi Channel in the Luzon Strait just south of Taiwan, the paper reported, citing a
A total lunar eclipse, an astronomical event often referred to as a “blood moon,” would be visible to sky watchers in Taiwan starting just before midnight on Sunday night, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said. The phenomenon is also called “blood moon” due to the reddish-orange hue it takes on as the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, completely blocking direct sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. The only light is refracted by the Earth’s atmosphere, and its red wavelengths are bent toward the moon, illuminating it in a dramatic crimson light. Describing the event as the most important astronomical phenomenon
ENHANCING DETERRENCE: Stationing the missiles in Kyushu would allow Japan to cover waters near Taiwan and China’s coastal areas without any logistical difficulties Japan is to deploy extended-range anti-ship missiles at a Ground Self-Defense Force base in Kumamoto to bolster its defenses, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Saturday. The upgraded Type 12 surface-to-ship missile, with a range of more than 1,000km, would be capable of striking targets in the Taiwan Strait and along China’s coast. Originally limited to a few hundred kilometers, the Type 12 was recently modernized ahead of schedule. Deployment, initially slated for next year, has been accelerated after the upgrade was completed sooner than expected, the newspaper said. Stationing the missiles in Kyushu would allow Japan to cover waters near Taiwan and
The presence of Taiwanese politicians at China’s military parade tomorrow would send the wrong message to Beijing and the international community about Taiwan’s sovereignty and democracy, a national security official said yesterday. China is to hold the parade tomorrow to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. By bringing together leaders of “anti-West” governments such as Russia, North Korea, Iran and Belarus, the parade aims to project a symbolic image of an alliance that is cohesive and unbending against Western countries, the national security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu
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