The newly formed Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Youth Corps yesterday began the registration process to elect its leader and called on the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to "follow its example."
"We hope that DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun will also establish a youth corps and choose its leader through a nationwide election in order to improve the political situation in Taiwan and the DPP's relationship with the KMT," said spokesman Lu Chi-chiang (
Earlier yesterday morning, during the press conference to announce the party's youth corps leadership election, corps members shouted "Youth rules!" and pledged to strive for greater roles for youth in the political world.
"Young people were treated like vassals with no real power in political parties. Now the KMT has given us the stage and our direct involvement in the decision-making process will revolutionize politics," said the corps' election committee chief Chang Si-gang (
The formation of the KMT Youth Corps, which will be formally established in March, was one of KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou's (
While the corps is intended to attract youthful talent, it has been dubbed by the media as a "clique of princes," with senior members including former KMT chairman Lien Chan's (
Many expected that Lien Sheng-wen, who is seen as a promising star already in the party, would be the corps' leader, but he declined to enter the election.
In addition to KMT Legislator Justin Chou (
"I join the race not for my personal power and fame, but to unite the party's young people. The KMT failed to take the youth seriously in the past and I can't absent myself from this important election," Chou said yesterday when registering.
The election registration process runs until Feb. 7. Voters will be able to make their choice by mail, telephone and online. The result will be announced on March 29.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning. The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today. The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern
FINAL COUNTDOWN: About 50,000 attended a pro-recall rally yesterday, while the KMT and the TPP plan to rally against the recall votes today Democracy activists, together with arts and education representatives, yesterday organized a motorcade, while thousands gathered on Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei in the evening in support of tomorrow’s recall votes. Recall votes for 24 Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers and suspended Hsinchu City mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) are to be held tomorrow, while recall votes for seven other KMT lawmakers are scheduled for Aug. 23. The afternoon motorcade was led by the Spring Breeze Culture and Arts Foundation, the Tyzen Hsiao Foundation and the Friends of Lee Teng-hui Association, and was joined by delegates from the Taiwan Statebuilding Party and the Taiwan Solidarity
Instead of threatening tariffs on Taiwan-made chips, the US should try to reinforce cooperation with Taiwan on semiconductor development to take on challenges from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), a Taiwanese think tank said. The administration of US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose across-the-board import duties of 32 percent on Taiwan-made goods and levy a separate tariff on semiconductors, which Taiwan is hoping to avoid. The Research Institute for Democracy, Society, and Emerging Technology (DSET), a National Science and Technology Council think tank, said that US efforts should focus on containing China’s semiconductor rise rather than impairing Taiwan. “Without
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is next month to hold an exhibition in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the rich and unique history of Taiwanese folklore and literature. The exhibition, which is to run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 at the city’s Central Public Hall, is part of the “We Taiwan” at Expo 2025 series, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural ties with the international community, National Museum of Taiwan Literature director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said. Folklore and literature, among Taiwan’s richest cultural heritages, naturally deserve a central place in the global dialogue, Chen said. Taiwan’s folklore would be immediately apparent at the entrance of the
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