Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) in a radio interview on Friday said it is understandable that some pro-localization Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) members would want to form the “Taiwan Nationalist Party Alliance,” given that KMT presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu’s (洪秀柱) dismal poll numbers seem to be negatively affecting the party’s prospects in next year’s legislative elections.
Lee said that the KMT is trapped in uncertainty, with no helmsman.
While talk of party solidarity is loud, its leaders are passing the buck around, Lee said.
Solidarity is not achieved by paying lip service, Lee said, adding that KMT leaders should have the determination and courage to fight for the party rather than for themselves.
Lee cited political commentator Hu Chung-hsin (胡忠信), who said that it would not be easy for the KMT to force Hung out of the presidential race, as she would be able to receive a handsome sum from election subsidies.
Hung said the comment was “to judge a virtuous person using a dishonest mindset.”
Asked about the “game change” the election might bring, Lee said that rather than worrying about Beijing’s moves during the presidential interregnum — the period from the elections on Jan. 16 to May 20, when the new president is to be sworn in — it is President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) who would be a source of apprehension, as it is not impossible that he might try to curry favor with Beijing.
During the presidential transition, the legislature will be the only authority counterbalancing the president, Lee said, adding that the new president would have to be resolute in attitude and brace for difficulties with well-thought-out strategies.
Lee said it would not be a problem if Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) became president, but issues concerning the legislature are complicated, and Tsai should pay extra attention to them, as a legislative majority would not easily be achieved.
Lee said that as the US has made clear its unwavering position concerning its Taiwan policy, China would not intervene in the presidential election.
“There is no need to worry about what China might do,” he said.
Lee said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) ordered 300 Boeing jets from the Chicago-based aircraft maker before his state visit to the US last month and aimed to elicit “certain words,” or a change of attitude on the US’ part, that would push Taiwan to endorse the so-called “1992 consensus,” a term former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) admitted making up in 2000 that refers to a tacit understanding between the KMT and the Chinese government that both sides of the strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
However, the US was unyielding in its stance that respects the existence of Taiwan and its democratic system and Washington did not accept any requests from China, Lee said.
“As I see it, it is not possible for China to exert pressure [over the upcoming elections] in Taiwan,” he said.
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
Temperatures are forecast to drop steadily as a continental cold air mass moves across Taiwan, with some areas also likely to see heavy rainfall, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. From today through early tomorrow, a cold air mass would keep temperatures low across central and northern Taiwan, and the eastern half of Taiwan proper, with isolated brief showers forecast along Keelung’s north coast, Taipei and New Taipei City’s mountainous areas and eastern Taiwan, it said. Lows of 11°C to 15°C are forecast in central and northern Taiwan, Yilan County, and the outlying Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties, and 14°C to 17°C
STEERING FAILURE: The first boat of its class is experiencing teething issues as it readies for acceptance by the navy, according to a recent story about rudder failure The Hai Kun (海鯤), the nation’s first locally built submarine, allegedly suffered a total failure of stern hydraulic systems during the second round of sea acceptance trials on June 26, and sailors were forced to manually operate the X-rudder to turn the submarine and return to port, news Web site Mirror Daily reported yesterday. The report said that tugboats following the Hai Kun assisted the submarine in avoiding collisions with other ships due to the X-rudder malfunctioning. At the time of the report, the submarine had completed its trials and was scheduled to begin diving and surfacing tests in shallow areas. The X-rudder,
RSS