Campaigning in Taipei City yesterday, Vice President Annette Lu (
Lu likened Taiwan's plight to Penghu, an island group approximately 50km off Taiwan's southwestern coast, saying that part of Penghu's current economic woes is a result of an exodus of its most capable and intelligent residents to Taiwan.
Saying that the country's economic problems result from the relocation of local businesses to China, Lu said Taiwan's economy would have been doomed had the KMT remained in power.
Certain political parties advocate unification with China and are keen to offer Taiwan to China on a platter, she said.
Lu said she is worried that Taiwan's democratic achievement will be reversed if the DPP fails in the legislative elections.
"Taiwan will be safe only if the DPP wins," she said.
Meanwhile, with less than a week until the legislative elections, President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen, who doubles as DPP chairman, will hold the meeting at the DPP headquarters this morning, with Lu, DPP election campaign chief Yu Shyi-kun, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄), DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and Hsieh's running mate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) expected to attend.
Hsieh spokesman Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟) said the meeting was called to consolidate the party's determination to win the elections. Chen would like to see high-ranking party officials jointly share the responsibility of the electoral result, Chao said.
Chao dismissed allegations that Hsieh was distancing himself from Saturday's elections, saying that Hsieh believed the triumph of the legislative elections will help boost his chances of winning the presidential election in March.
Chao was referring to a complaint made by Yu on Wednesday.
Yu said some pro-independence groups felt the party's internal affairs as the legislative and presidential elections near should be taken care of like a hen watches over its chicks.
They told Yu that the hen -- referring to Hsieh -- was too busy, however, to do its job, so they didn't have much choice but to ask the rooster -- Chen -- to step in.
In related news, Hsieh yesterday received the endorsement of a group of doctors who formed a campaign advisory team. The move followed on the heels of similar efforts made by his Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) counterpart, Ma Ying-jeou (
While many members of the medical sector have traditionally had a close relationship with the DPP, Ma's camp has formed a support group of doctors.
Additional reporting by CNA
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man