People First Party (PFP) presidential candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜) yesterday denied that his recent string of visits to local dignitaries across the nation was aimed at bringing vote brokers for other parties into his fold, saying he was just trying “to catch up with some of his old friends.”
“These people served as the vote brokers in my campaign for Taiwan provincial governor [in 1994.] So technically, I am not bringing them into my fold, but rather bringing them back,” Soong said as he paid visits to former Tainan city council speakers, including Lien Ching-tai (連清泰) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Li He-shun (李和順) of the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union.
The politician also visited former Tainan county commissioner Lee Ya-chiao (李雅樵) of the KMT and the mother of former Tainan city council speaker Chou Ching-wen (周清文).
Photo: CNA
Soong was fervently greeted by local residents, among whom were former township councilors and borough wardens.
Some cheered: “President Soong, winning the election,” while others told the 73-year-old that they dearly missed “the era of order” when he was the provincial governor.
As the only former provincial governor who had visited 309 towns and villages across the nation, Soong said he has made many friends at the municipal level.
“Many of the people I have visited today used to fight by my side for Tainan. I would define this trip as a trip to get old friends back and make new ones. Together, we can strive for and bring new hope to our country,” Soong said.
At a time when the nation’s six special municipalities are all facing dire financial straits, with public infrastructure in the central and southern parts of the nation almost at a standstill, Soong said the nation must set aside the pan-blue-versus-pan-green political divide and rise above ethnic and political affiliations.
He added that harmony and collective action were much needed in Tainan’s political arena.
Earlier yesterday, former Chiayi county council speaker Hsiao Teng-piao (蕭登標) also threw his support behind Soong at a memorial service for the father of a PFP member that they attended together.
“Since neither the KMT nor the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] have managed to steer Taiwan into a better future during their respective eight-year reigns, it is time for an experienced politician like Soong to treat the country’s illnesses,” Hsiao said.
However, when asked whether his open endorsement meant that the entire Hsiao family, which has great political influence, supports Soong, Hsiao simply said: “I am merely supporting a friend. It does not mean anything.”
Chen Ching-jen (陳鏡仁), vice president of business conglomerate Nice Group and an old acquaintance of Soong, said on the sidelines of the ceremony that, given the DPP’s strong momentum, a win would be possible for the pan-blue camp only if the KMT joined hands with the PFP.
Asked which candidates he supports, Chen said he supports whoever is on the winning side.
Commenting on Soong’s closely watched trips yesterday, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said every candidate must make individual efforts to garner support, but stressed the need for unity.
Additional reporting by Chen Wei-tsung
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
Carrefour Taiwan is to begin using a new name from the start of July, but it cannot divulge the name until then, the chairman of the supermarket chain's parent company said today. President Chain Store Co chairman Lo Chih-hsien (羅智先) was asked by reporters after a shareholders' meeting to confirm whether the company has settled on a new name for the supermarket brand. In March, the government-registered name of two Carrefour Taiwan branches was quietly changed to "Le Chia Kang" (樂家康) in Chinese, raising speculation that has been selected as the name. Lo said that because of local regulations and contractual obligations, the
The Philippines would likely be involved in any conflict over Taiwan due to its proximity to the democracy claimed by China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said, reiterating a stance that risks angering Beijing. “In the Philippines, we do not have a choice because Taiwan is so close to the Philippines and we have almost 200,000 Filipino nationals living and working in Taiwan,” Marcos said in an interview with Japanese media in Manila on Monday. The Philippine leader’s comments come ahead of a state visit to Japan next week, where he is to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss security
RSS