Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) yesterday said that she was undeterred by the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) attempts to poach her vote brokers, adding that many of her supporters used to side with the pan-green camp.
Hung made the remark on the sidelines of a certification ceremony in Taipei for 263 newly recruited KMT members, during which she was asked whether the attendance of pan-blue-leaning borough wardens at DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) recent campaign events in Miaoli County bothered her.
“I am not worried, as we all are seeking support from voters identified with our rival camps. Quite a few of my supporters also sided with the pan-green camp in the past,” Hung said.
Clear principles and an unequivocal national recognition of the nation are what truly matter, Hung said, adding that a candidate who lacked those qualities would inevitably lose supporters.
Hung rejected Tsai’s call on Saturday to stop using history to manipulate political rivalries and social division.
“I do not understand what she means by ‘manipulating social divisions.’ We must restore the truth of historical events so that the public can ... learn about the past, know about the present and look to the future,” Hung said.
Tsai was speaking about the controversy surrounding former president Lee Teng-hui’s (李登輝) recent interview with a Japanese magazine.
Meanwhile, Hung downplayed inquiries about rumors that the KMT would revise nomination rules to once again allow Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) to retain his legislator-at-large status and the speakership.
She would respect whatever decision KMT headquarters makes on the issue.
The KMT in 2011 amended its regulations on nominations for legislators-at-large and overseas legislators to allow members with “special contributions” to be nominated for two successive terms instead of being limited to one.
Those who fit the above criteria and also hold the position of legislative speaker are allowed to serve a total of three terms, the KMT rules state.
Wang’s third term as a legislator-at-large is set to end on Jan. 31.
KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) also declined to discuss the rumors.
“The party has yet to begin deliberation on matters regarding the nomination of legislators-at-large. However, we will definitely factor in the public’s expectations of having talented people in the legislature when the deliberation process starts, which would probably occur late next month or in October,” Chu said.
An increase in Taiwanese boats using China-made automatic identification systems (AIS) could confuse coast guards patrolling waters off Taiwan’s southwest coast and become a loophole in the national security system, sources familiar with the matter said yesterday. Taiwan ADIZ, a Facebook page created by enthusiasts who monitor Chinese military activities in airspace and waters off Taiwan’s southwest coast, on Saturday identified what seemed to be a Chinese cargo container ship near Penghu County. The Coast Guard Administration went to the location after receiving the tip and found that it was a Taiwanese yacht, which had a Chinese AIS installed. Similar instances had also
GOOD DIPLOMACY: The KMT has maintained close contact with representative offices in Taiwan and had extended an invitation to Russia as well, the KMT said The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) would “appropriately handle” the fallout from an invitation it had extended to Russia’s representative to Taipei to attend its international banquet last month, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said yesterday. US and EU representatives in Taiwan boycotted the event, and only later agreed to attend after the KMT rescinded its invitation to the Russian representative. The KMT has maintained long-term close contact with all representative offices and embassies in Taiwan, and had extended the invitation as a practice of good diplomacy, Chu said. “Some EU countries have expressed their opinions of Russia, and the KMT respects that,” he
VIGILANCE: The military is paying close attention to actions that might damage peace and stability in the region, the deputy minister of national defense said The People’s Republic of China (PRC) might consider initiating a hack on Taiwanese networks on May 20, the day of the inauguration ceremony of president-elect William Lai (賴清德), sources familiar with cross-strait issues said. While US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s statement of the US expectation “that all sides will conduct themselves with restraint and prudence in the period ahead” would prevent military actions by China, Beijing could still try to sabotage Taiwan’s inauguration ceremony, the source said. China might gain access to the video screens outside of the Presidential Office Building and display embarrassing messages from Beijing, such as congratulating Lai
Four China Coast Guard ships briefly sailed through prohibited waters near Kinmen County, Taipei said, urging Beijing to stop actions that endanger navigation safety. The Chinese ships entered waters south of Kinmen, 5km from the Chinese city of Xiamen, at about 3:30pm on Monday, the Coast Guard Administration said in a statement later the same day. The ships “sailed out of our prohibited and restricted waters” about an hour later, the agency said, urging Beijing to immediately stop “behavior that endangers navigation safety.” Ministry of National Defense spokesman Sun Li-fang (孫立方) yesterday told reporters that Taiwan would boost support to the Coast Guard