With the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) candidate for the Taipei mayoral election still a mystery, one of the only DPP members to have directly expressed interest in running for the post yesterday urged former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) to make his intentions clear.
Hsieh is thought to be mulling running in the mayoral race.
Former DPP legislator Shen Fu-hsiung (
"I hope Hsieh will let everyone know whether or not he will run for the Taipei mayorship right away. He should make it clear to the DPP and stop being coy about the election," Shen said.
Wasting time
"Although this ambiguous attitude can garner him much media exposure, it does not benefit the DPP. Don't waste others' time and supporters' patience," he said.
Shen said that since he had already announced he would not join the election, he would not change his mind, even if the DPP came to its senses and attempted to enlist him when Hsieh decides to abandon the election.
"This battlefield does not belong to me any longer. It makes no sense for me to continue fighting," Shen said.
Although Shen said that he would not look at the party's conspicuous preference for Hsieh as an injustice, he relayed comments from a conversation he said he had with DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun last Tuesday.
"Yu told me that Hsieh said to him that he would give up the 2008 presidential election if he decided to run in the Taipei mayoral election," Shen said.
Shen said that as such, he believed Hsieh would not join the Taipei race as he appeared to be eyeing the presidential election.
Rejected candidate
Meanwhile, DPP Legislator You Ching (
The DPP had cited problems with his documents in blocking his application.
You submitted letters to the DPP, saying that his application documents had met the party's requirements.
You accused the party of intentionally harassing him over his participation in the primary.
DPP Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), who accepted You's documents, said that the party would submit You's complaint to the central executive committee, which would review them tomorrow.
TSU ready to campaign
In related developments, Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Chairman Shu Chin-chiang (
After the news conference, Clara Chou (周玉蔻) and TSU Legislator Lo Chih-ming (羅志明), the party's candidates for the year-end Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral races, as well as 12 city councilor candidates, together visited former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) at his residence in Taoyuan.
Lee did not say anything to the media but took a group picture with the candidates at the front door of his house to show his support.
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
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
RSS