Taiwan Quick Take: KMT plans debate

The Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) Kaohsiung chapter said on Tuesday it would organize a televised debate for hopefuls running in an intraparty primary to win the party's nomination for the year-end mayoral election in the southern port city. Nine KMT members have registered for the party primary, a Kaohsiung chapter spokesman said, adding that the planned TV debate would take place either next Thursday or next Friday. The primary candidates are expected to air their own policy initiatives and then debate among themselves on major topics of mutual interest in the televised forum, the spokesman said. The party is scheduled to hold a primary on May 27 for rank-and-file members in Kaohsiung to select a preferred candidate to represent the party in the year-end election.