Once a major subgroup within the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Representative to Japan Frank Hsieh’s (謝長廷) faction suffered a major loss at the party’s national congress yesterday with zero seats in the Central Standing Committee, while the former New Tide faction gained the most seats.
The party in 2006 resolved to dissolve its factions in a move to bolster party unity, although the groupings are still recognized by many people inside and outside of the DPP.
According to the DPP’s power structure, party delegates elect 30 Central Executive Committee members at the annual national congress, and the 30 Central Executive Committee members then choose 10 Central Standing Committee members among themselves.
In addition to the 10 elected seats, the party chair, the three top caucus officials, mayors of the special municipalities and one additional mayor also serve on the Central Standing Committee.
On the outgoing Central Standing Committee, Hsieh’s faction holds two seats — including himself and DPP Legislator Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲). However, at yesterday’s election, Hsieh’s faction did not win any Central Standing Committee seats as its candidate, Kuan, received only one vote and another candidate, DPP Legislator Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟), received no votes.
While most other major factions retained a certain number of seats in the party’s core decision-making body, New Tide secured three seats and is now the faction with the most seats.
A DPP source said Kuan voted for herself, and Chao voted for DPP Kaohsiung City Councilor Lin Ying-jun (林瑩蓉).
“Some of the newly elected Central Standing Committee members were elected with only two votes, so if Hsieh’s faction had united and focused their votes on one person, they would still have had a chance,” said a DPP source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Three batches of banana sauce imported from the Philippines were intercepted at the border after they were found to contain the banned industrial dye Orange G, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. From today through Sept. 2 next year, all seasoning sauces from the Philippines are to be subject to the FDA’s strictest border inspection, meaning 100 percent testing for illegal dyes before entry is allowed, it said in a statement. Orange G is an industrial coloring agent that is not permitted for food use in Taiwan or internationally, said Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智), head of the FDA’s Northern Center for
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
LOOKING NORTH: The base would enhance the military’s awareness of activities in the Bashi Channel, which China Coast Guard ships have been frequenting, an expert said The Philippine Navy on Thursday last week inaugurated a forward operating base in the country’s northern most province of Batanes, which at 185km from Taiwan would be strategically important in a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Northern Luzon Command Commander Lieutenant General Fernyl Buca as saying that the base in Mahatao would bolster the country’s northern defenses and response capabilities. The base is also a response to the “irregular presence this month of armed” of China Coast Guard vessels frequenting the Bashi Channel in the Luzon Strait just south of Taiwan, the paper reported, citing a
UNDER PRESSURE: The report cited numerous events that have happened this year to show increased coercion from China, such as military drills and legal threats The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aims to reinforce its “one China” principle and the idea that Taiwan belongs to the People’s Republic of China by hosting celebratory events this year for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the “retrocession” of Taiwan and the establishment of the UN, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in its latest report to the Legislative Yuan. Taking advantage of the significant anniversaries, Chinese officials are attempting to assert China’s sovereignty over Taiwan through interviews with international news media and cross-strait exchange events, the report said. Beijing intends to reinforce its “one China” principle
RSS