Veteran pro-localization advocate and former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Wang Tuoh (王拓), who had been hospitalized since July 30 after a heart attack, died yesterday. He was 72.
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who is also DPP chairperson, said Wang’s death saddened the party.
“His continued efforts to improve Taiwan will forever be something that party members aspire to,” she said.
Photo: CNA, courtesy of Tsai Shih-ying’s legislative office
Wang, a Formosa Incident victim, served as legislator for three consecutive terms and chairman of the then-Council of Cultural Affairs in former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) administration.
He also served as DPP secretary-general when Tsai first assumed leadership of the party in 2008, following the party’s massive defeat in the legislative and presidential elections that year.
The DPP said that Wang volunteered to take on the position of secretary-general for free in 2008, sacrificing time with his family.
Wang’s devotion to the party during a time of difficulty was impressive, the DPP said, adding that during his tenure, he eased the party’s financial burden by paying off NT$150 million (US$4.8 million) of the party’s debts.
“Wang’s courage in the face of hardship and his selfless sacrifice set an example for the party,” the DPP said.
DPP Secretary-General Hung Yao-fu (洪耀福) visited Wang’s family and offered the party’s assistance.
DPP Legislator Tsai Shih-ying (蔡適應), the head of Wang’s office for eight years, said Wang was like a father to him and he was greatly saddened by his passing.
Aside from being a political figure, Wang was also a renowned writer.
His novel Wang Jun Zhao Gui (望君早歸), describing life in Keelung’s Badouzih Township (八斗子), has been cited as a model literary representation of life in Taiwanese fishing villages. His other works, such as Jin Shui Shen (金水嬸), are representative of “nativist literature” (鄉土文學).
Wang was not a prolific writer, but his works were solid and his diction clean, writer Chu Yu-hsun (朱宥勳) said.
There are few writings on life in Taiwanese fishing villages, which is one reason Wang became the representative figure of this subject, Chu said.
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
The first two F-16V Bock 70 jets purchased from the US are expected to arrive in Taiwan around Double Ten National Day, which is on Oct. 10, a military source said yesterday. Of the 66 F-16V Block 70 jets purchased from the US, the first completed production in March, the source said, adding that since then three jets have been produced per month. Although there were reports of engine defects, the issue has been resolved, they said. After the jets arrive in Taiwan, they must first pass testing by the air force before they would officially become Taiwan’s property, they said. The air force
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
PAWSITIVE IMPACT: A shop owner said that while he adopted cats to take care of rodents, they have also attracted younger visitors who also buy his dried goods In Taipei’s Dadaocheng (大稻埕), cats lounging in shops along Dihua Street do more than nap amid the scent of dried seafood. Many have become beloved fixtures who double as photography models, attracting visitors and helping boost sales in one of the capital’s most historic quarters. A recent photo contest featuring more than a dozen shop cats drew more than 2,200 submissions, turning everyday cat-spotting into a friendly competition that attracted amateur and professional photographers. “It’s rare to see cats standing, so when it suddenly did, it felt like a lucky cat,” said Sabrina Hsu (徐淳蔚), who won the NT$10,000 top prize in
RSS