Hsieh embarks on nationwide tour to drum up support

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday launched a nationwide tour to promote his campaign platform by visiting local communities.

Hsieh started his tour in Hualien yesterday, with plans to stay for three days at each stop and visit local industries and meet local supporters.

Hsieh said he believed in promoting "co-existence" as "we share one future and fate. We need to identify with Taiwan and understand that we are all Taiwanese."

Hsieh's nationwide tour, dubbed the "New Six Stars Plan," began after his Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) opponent Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) finished his 18-day "Long Stay" program in central Taiwan.

While declining to compare his nationwide trip with that of Ma in central Taiwan, Hsieh criticized Ma for aiming only at unifying the country with China if elected.

"If someone only wants unification with China and view Taiwan simply as a springboard, then he does not deserve to be called Taiwanese," he said.

Hsieh's spokesman Chao Teng-lin (趙天麟) said that Hsieh would return to Taipei for a while after visiting Hualien County, Ilan County and Taitung County. He will then proceed to Taipei County and Keelung City.

Hsieh promoted a "Six Stars Plan" in 2005 when he was the premier. The six stars were: developing local businesses, improving social welfare and medical systems, promoting cultural and educational development, maintaining public safety, protecting the environment and preserving natural scenery.