New Taipei City Mayor and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) yesterday said he would explain why he is not running for president after the period for aspirants to sign up ends on May 16.
In response to questions from reporters on Friday, Chu declared his absence from the presidential election scheduled for Jan. 16 next year. However, some KMT party members who have called for his nomination appear to be unwilling to give up hope, saying that Chu’s remarks on Friday did not constitute a formal announcement.
Chu said that he would give a clear account of his position on the presidential election after May 16.
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
“You do not need to ask me the same questions, do you?” Chu said in response to media queries upon arriving at the headquarters of the Republic of China Women’s Association to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the KMT-affiliated organization. “There is no need to repeat what has already been said.”
Chu again urged KMT members who wish to serve the nation to make their bid public as soon as possible to show that the KMT is committed to a successful presidential campaign.
“As party chairman, I sincerely hope the KMT field the best and most suitable presidential candidate, and that all party members unite in support of the candidate to provide Taiwan and the Republic of China a better future,” Chu said.
According to the KMT’s nomination rules, presidential aspirants are required to collect signatures from at least 5 percent of the party’s 300,000 members to endorse their candidacy during the 27-day registration period from tomorrow to May 16, and to pay a NT$2 million (US$64,181) refundable deposit and NT$7 million to subsidize the primary.
In response to a report in the Chinese-language China Times yesterday quoting an unnamed KMT source as reporting that the party could order Chu to represent the party in the election if no one else registers as a candidate before May 16, Deputy Legislative Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) said: “How could it be possible?”
“I have said I would take part in the primary, have I not?” Hung said, adding that she has NT$2 million ready and would pick up an application form tomorrow.
Taiwan is to commence mass production of the Tien Kung (天弓, “Sky Bow”) III, IV and V missiles by the second quarter of this year if the legislature approves the government’s NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.78 billion) special defense budget, an official said yesterday. Commenting on condition of anonymity, a defense official with knowledge of the matter said that the advanced systems are expected to provide crucial capabilities against ballistic and cruise missiles for the proposed “T-Dome,” an advanced, multi-layered air defense network. The Tien Kung III is an air defense missile with a maximum interception altitude of 35km. The Tien Kung IV and V
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A strong continental cold air mass is to bring pollutants to Taiwan from tomorrow, the Ministry of Environment said today, as it issued an “orange” air quality alert for most of the country. All of Taiwan except for Hualien and Taitung counties is to be under an “orange” air quality alert tomorrow, indicating air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. In China, areas from Shandong to Shanghai have been enveloped in haze since Saturday, the ministry said in a news release. Yesterday, hourly concentrations of PM2.5 in these areas ranged from 65 to 160 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m³), and pollutants were
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