Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) yesterday reiterated that her cross-strait policy is no different from that of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), a day after KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said her policy deviated from the mainstream and that the party has decided to call an extempore congress to consider a new candidate.
Speaking at the World Peace Congress held by the Chinese World and Nation Peace Association, Hung said she is “still the presidential candidate nominated by the KMT.”
Addressing the crowd, Hung said she was “alone on the stage” as the president had just left.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
She recounted her candidacy from the first day she registered for the KMT primary.
“I have felt this solitude since the day I registered for the primary, but I have not been alone or lonely, since I have many friends supporting me. Today, there are people who said it felt awkward as they do not know how to address me. It is not. I am the deputy legislative speaker of the Republic of China, and currently still the KMT presidential candidate,” Hung said.
She said that Ma “once publicly stated on television that my cross-strait policy is no different from his.”
“My ‘one China’ is the Republic of China,” she said, adding that Ma’s cross-strait policy has gained people’s trust and reflects mainstream public opinion.
While there is very little difference between her cross-strait policy and Ma’s, hers is “clearer on certain aspects,” Hung said.
She highlighted the need for a peace agreement, saying that to secure the achievements Ma has made in cross-strait relations over the past seven years, there needs to be “a breakthrough and a deepening of the [so-called] ‘1992 consensus.’”
Ma, who left yesterday’s event early, had a chance to shake hands with Hung before leaving. He did not respond to media queries about Hung’s cross-strait policy and whether he would talk her out of the race. He said he would stand by the decision made by KMT headquarters.
Separately, World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce president Jonathan Huang (黃正勝), who is also the head of a Hung supporters’ club within the association, said Hung’s comment on the “eventual unification” with China worries many Taiwanese businesspeople.
“Cross-strait relations should have been the KMT’s forte. Why has it become a problem [for the party], which has aroused the concern of many overseas Taiwanese businesspeople? Why talk about ultimate unification? There is no need to stir up a hornet’s nest,” Huang said.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS