Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) wrapped up a four-day visit to Japan yesterday, remaining tight-lipped over whether he will vie for the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) nomination for next year’s presidential election.
At a news conference in Tokyo prior to his departure, Wang did not directly answer any questions related to the election.
When asked whether he would register for the KMT’s presidential primary, Wang said he “cannot answer the question now.”
On “who is more suitable to be president in 2016,” Wang said it was “not convenient for me to answer” the question.
He also declined to provide his opinion about Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who is expected to represent her party in the presidential election in January next year.
Wang arrived in Japan on Monday at the head of a 15-member parliamentary delegation.
During his stay, Wang met with Masaaki Yamazaki, president of the House of Councilors in the Diet, and Sadakazu Tanigaki, head of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He also visited Katsuya Okada, head of Japan’s largest opposition party, the Democratic Party.
Wang also went to Chiba Prefecture to visit a radioactive substance examination center and facilities offering long-term healthcare services for elderly people.
During yesterday’s news conference, Wang described his visit as fruitful.
He expressed the hope that Japan would sign an economic partnership agreement with Taiwan soon and help Taiwan to participate in regional trade blocs, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
Pressed by reporters after he arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport yesterday, Wang said the “timing isn’t right” to talk about the subject because he has lots of things to work on in the legislature.
Additional reporting By Shih Hsiu-chuan
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