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.
Typhoon Champi is forecast to turn northward earlier than previously expected, sparing Taiwan a direct hit but still bringing heavy rain to the north of the country on Friday and Saturday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Typhoon Champi had strengthened and increased in size over the past 12 hours, and as of yesterday afternoon, was packing sustained winds of 198kph near its center, CWA forecaster Cheng Chieh-jen (鄭傑仁) said. However, due to the weakening of a Pacific high-pressure system the storm is now expected to turn northward earlier than initially forecast, likely around Japan’s Ishigaki Island, Cheng said. As Champi brushes
A sea warning for Typhoon Champi might be issued tonight, while the storm’s trajectory would determine whether a land warning is to be issued tomorrow night, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 2pm yesterday, Champi was about 1,536km east-southeast of Taiwan proper’s southernmost point, Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), packing maximum sustained winds of 198kph, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said. The storm was moving west-northwest at 23kph and was expected to strengthen over the next 24 hours before weakening slightly as it approaches cooler waters east of Taiwan, Tseng said. Champi is expected to turn north tomorrow, with the angle of the
DEFENSE PROCUREMENT: Taiwan could become the largest operator of V-BAT drones outside the US if the contract is finalized, the Ministry of National Defense said The navy and the coast guard reportedly plan to acquire 292 units of MQ-35A V-BAT vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) surveillance drones. If the contract is awarded and finalized, it would make Taiwan one of the largest buyers of the uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the US-based defense technology company Shield AI. The Coast Guard Administration budgeted NT$1.2 billion (US$37.1 million) to buy 12 drones, which have been delivered, Shield AI said in a report on Oct 13. The navy is planning to spend NT$36 billion under a four-year program code-named Project Yuan Hsiao (遠鴞) to acquire 280 V-BAT drones,
A patrol vessel donated by the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) to the Philippines would not be used in waters near Taiwan or areas where Taiwanese fishing vessels operate, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday. The vessel, formerly the CGA's 500-tonne-class Kinmen (金門), was commissioned into the Philippine Coast Guard on Oct. 2. Speaking at the Legislative Yuan, Cho said the Philippines had pledged during the donation process that the vessel would be used only for designated missions and would not operate in waters related to Taiwan. The vessel could even provide assistance to Taiwan if needed, he added. Responding to questions from Chinese
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