Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Eric Chu (朱立倫) yesterday shrugged off netizens mocking him over a story he told during Sunday’s televised debate about an elderly woman who prompted him to run for the presidency.
“I would like to thank everyone for their concern. I met an elderly woman during a visit to a local temple. Not only her, but many others have also encouraged me to take care of Taiwan, which is why I will do my best to work for the nation,” Chu said.
Chu made the remarks during a visit to Taitung County, in response to media queries on the growing public curiosity about the identity of the woman who Chu said he met during a trip to New Taipei City’s Tamsui District (淡水).
Chu on Sunday said that the woman told him “the gods will not forgive you if you do not run for president,” when Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) questioned his integrity, citing his promise to serve out his term as New Taipei City mayor and not vie for the top office.
Chu’s comments quickly triggered an outpouring of ridicule on the Internet, with netizens saying that they doubt the existence of the woman.
One netizen said that that they were amazed by Chu’s willingness to abandon the entire population of New Taipei City for a single person, in a message they posted on the Professional Technology Temple (PTT), the nation’s largest academic online bulletin board.
“Deputy Legislative Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) would have never imagined it was an elderly lady that prompted the rescission of her nomination as the KMT’s presidential candidate,” one netizen said.
A Facebook page titled “Tamsui Grandma” was set up on Sunday afternoon, featuring a logo with the slogan, “One Grandma: Grandma is Strength” — a modification of Chu’s campaign slogan: “One Taiwan: Taiwan is Strength.”
The page had attracted nearly 12,000 followers as of press time yesterday.
A Facebook page, called “Taiwan Fugue,” launched a “self-help sticker campaign” providing elderly women who worry about being mistaken as the reason behind Chu’s candidacy with stickers reading: “I did not ask Eric Chu to run for president.”
A cartoonist, who goes by the pseudonym Tsai Chao (菜朝), published a cartoon on Facebook yesterday featuring himself trying to persuade his wife to listen to him and wash their children’s clothes by telling her the order came from “Tamsui Grandma,” only to be punched in the face by his wife.
PEAK MONTHS: Data showed that on average 25 to 27 typhoons formed in the Pacific and South China seas annually, with about four forming per month in July and October One of three tropical depressions in the Pacific strengthened into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, while two others are expected to become typhoons by today, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lee Ming-hsiang (李名翔) said yesterday. The outer circulation of Tropical Depression No. 20, now Typhoon Mitag, has brought light rain to Hualien, Taitung and areas in the south, Lee said, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, Mitag was moving west-northwest at 16kph, but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan. It was possible that Tropical Depression No. 21 would become a typhoon as soon as last night, he said. It was moving in a
A Taiwanese academic yesterday said that Chinese Ambassador to Denmark Wang Xuefeng (王雪峰) disrespected Denmark and Japan when he earlier this year allegedly asked Japan’s embassy to make Taiwan’s representatives leave an event in Copenhagen. The Danish-language Berlingske on Sunday reported the incident in an article with the headline “The emperor’s birthday ended in drama in Copenhagen: More conflict may be on the way between Denmark and China.” It said that on Feb. 26, the Japanese embassy in Denmark held an event for Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s birthday, with about 200 guests in attendance, including representatives from Taiwan. After addressing the Japanese hosts, Wang
One of two tropical depressions that formed offshore this morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. It is expected to move in a northwesterly direction as it continues building momentum, possibly intensifying into Typhoon Mitag this weekend, she added. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is expected to approach southeast of Taiwan on Monday and pass through the Bashi Channel between Tuesday and Wednesday,
About nine Taiwanese are “disappeared,” detained, or otherwise deprived of freedom of movement in China each month, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. Between Jan. 1 last year and Aug. 31 this year, 188 Taiwanese travelers went missing, were detained and interrogated, or had their personal freedom restricted, with some questioned in airports or hotel lobbies, the council said. In a statement ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the council urged people visiting China for any reason to be highly vigilant and aware of the risks. Of the reported cases, 50 people were “disappeared” after entering China, 19 were detained and 119 had
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