New Taipei City Mayor and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) yesterday reiterated that the party’s mechanism for the selection of its candidates for next year’s legislative election would be open and transparent, in an effort to assuage growing concerns over his recent decision to establish a “campaign strategy committee” to replace the party’s primary system.
“Openness and transparency will be ensured [in the party’s candidate selection process]. We will handle the matter in a flexible and strategic manner,” Chu said on the sidelines of a tree-planting event in New Taipei City’s Shihding District (石碇) yesterday.
The two-term New Taipei City mayor made the remarks four days after the KMT’s Central Standing Committee passed an impromptu motion to establish a seven-member “legislative election campaign strategy committee” to help the party win a potentially cutthroat battle in next year’s legislative election.
The committee is tasked with overseeing the nomination and campaign strategies for all of the party’s legislative candidates for regional and Aboriginal seats in the legislature, as well as compiling its list of legislator-at-large nominees.
Chu said that every political party has its own stronghold constituencies.
“In constituencies where more than one party member is planning to compete for the candidacy, there must be negotiations and a primary, while in more difficult ones, the party has to select a candidate. That is why the committee is needed,” Chu said.
Turning to the heatedly discussed issue of creating a “nuclear-free homeland” by 2025, Chu said that the key to reaching the goal still lies in energy conservation.
“It is apparent that the country is wasting energy and it is extremely vital that we figure out a way for industries and families to use energy in a more efficient manner,” Chu said.
He said there were three measures that could help Taiwan follow in South Korea’s footsteps to successfully save energy equivalent to the capacity of a nuclear power plant: offering guidance to traditional industries with high energy consumption; building smart grids; and further promoting energy-efficient lighting options to schools and households.
The issue of a potential visit to the US by Chu was also brought up yesterday, given that Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) — who has registered in the party’s primary for next year’s presidential election — revealed on Saturday that she plans to visit Washington later this year.
However, Chu, who is considered a likely presidential candidate to represent the KMT in next year’s race, said such a visit did not necessarily have to happen this year, adding that a more stabilized Taiwan-US relationship required long-term interactions.
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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