Academia Sinica research fellow Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), who had been considering a legislative bid on the New Power Party ticket, yesterday denied claims by New Taipei City Councilor Shen Fa-hui (沈發惠) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that Huang would run for the legislative seat in that city’s Sijhih District (汐止).
“I have never said that I would join the [legislative] race,” Huang said on Facebook. “I will not seek to run in Sijhih and I will do my best to help opposition candidates — including Shen — to defeat [Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)] Legislator Lee Ching-hua (李慶華), so that there can be a good, local lawmaker representing the constituency.”
Huang posted the message in the afternoon after Shen said on Facebook that Huang was “finally going to make his splendid debut” in a legislative election.
Shen said that while he did not feel comfortable with the DPP’s decision not to include Sijhih in its list of constituencies to contest in next year’s legislative elections, he admired what Huang did during Sunflower movement last year and would support him if he decides to run.
“I still have two things to worry about,” Shen said. “First, are local DPP members feeling depressed about being abandoned by their party, and second, are voters upset over an ‘airborne’ candidate who does not know what people want?”
However, Shen said that he has been working hard in Sijhih for 18 years and hinted that Huang might not win the seat if he runs.
Shen called on the DPP’s Campaign Strategy Committee, as well as former premier Yu Shyi-kun (游錫堃)— who is in charge of the party’s campaign in New Taipei City — to be responsible if “the worst-case scenario” arises.
“Maybe everyone will be rejoicing over a victory for [DPP Chairperson] Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), so it would not seem important whether we lose one or two seats in the legislature or win more than 50 percent of the seats,” Shen said. “If we have a regrettable result [in the legislative elections], you will be celebrating a rotation of power, while I will be facing bitter fruit on my own in the dark.”
However, DPP spokesperson Wang Min-sheng (王閔生) said that the Central Executive Committee has decided not to nominate candidates in 11 constituencies, with Sijhih being one of them.
“We will continue to negotiate with the utmost sincerity with the third political force, and I believe our channels of communication with our party members remains smooth,” Wang said.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
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A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
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