Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presumptive presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu’s (洪秀柱) visit to a Kaohsiung night market was canceled over concerns expressed by Kaohsiung police for her safety, the contender’s team said early yesterday, before saying later that no change was made to the agenda after Kaohsiung police denied the allegation.
Hung’s team issued a notice to reporters about the cancelation of a tour scheduled for last night, saying that the city police had informed team members that Hung might not be properly protected amid the special municipality’s shortage of security guards.
“The Kaohsiung City Police Department said that since Hung is not yet an official presidential candidate, security is not sufficient for her to go to the night market. As her safety would be at risk, we have been advised to call off the event,” campaign workers said earlier in the day.
Photo: CNA
Because Hung’s itinerary had been “madly circulated online,” the night market tour was canceled over safety concerns, Hung’s assistant added.
“It has nothing to do with the city government,” the assistant said.
The municipal police department later denied the allegation, saying that no such suggestion was made to Hung’s campaign.
“We are here to sternly clarify that there is absolutely no such thing as [suggesting that Hung cancel the visit],” department inspector general Lee Yong-kuei (李永癸) said. “Deputy Legislative Speaker Hung’s safety would definitely be secured when she comes to Kaohsiung.”
There would be no difference in the protection provided to candidates because of party affiliations, he said.
Hung spokesperson Jack Yu (游梓翔) said Hung’s security detail had contacted an officer of the Kaohsiung City Police Department on Monday.
That officer said that since Hung has just two bodyguards, maintaining security at a night market might be a stretch for them, Yu said, adding that the tour had been called off for this reason.
Since the police now promised to help maintain security, Hung’s team decided to keep the activity on the agenda, Yu said.
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS