Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairperson candidate Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) has been embroiled in controversy since appearing on Monday at a banquet for DPP members in Pingtung County, where the host reportedly tried to mobilize attendees to vote for Cho in today’s election.
The Chinese-language Mirror Media magazine reported that the free banquet, organized by DPP legislators Su Cheng-ching (蘇震清) and Chuang Ruei-hsiung (莊瑞雄), was billed as a “talk with residents.”
“Vote for No. 1 — Cho Jung-tai” was projected on a large screen as the host urged attendees to vote for Cho in the party’s chairperson election, the magazine said.
Photo: Huang Shu-li, Taipei Times
Each banquet table reportedly had rosters with information on all of the party’s members and, as he repeated calls to vote for Cho, the host encouraged the attendees to use the rosters — the “most important thing” about the banquet — to get to know one another.
Cho yesterday said he was a guest at the banquet.
Su and Chuang hold the banquet every year, and this year some publications were distributed on the tables, he said, adding: “I think the whole event was very straightforward.”
Cho said that he had apologized to the two lawmakers for the trouble he might have caused them.
As the only other candidate for party chairman, Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation chairman Michael You (游盈隆) yesterday lashed out at Cho over the banquet.
Speaking at a campaign event in Hualien County, You said that the tactic that Cho allegedly adopted to canvass for votes was “outrageous and unethical.”
Cho should drop out of the race on his own initiative and apologize to the public, You said.
Cho used to be a formidable adversary, You said, but added that Cho’s recent behavior had eroded his respect for the man.
The actions alleged by Mirror Media were illegal, but Cho had given a generic response, You said, asking the audience what they thought would become of the DPP if a morally flawed person like Cho was elected chairperson.
“Would there still be any hope for the party?” You said.
He urged Cho stand up and apologize to the public, adding that dropping out of the election was the only way to prevent the party’s image from being marred at a time when it was trying to regain the public’s trust.
You said his bid for DPP chairperson was not for personal gain, but to save the party from ruin.
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
Temperatures are forecast to drop steadily as a continental cold air mass moves across Taiwan, with some areas also likely to see heavy rainfall, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. From today through early tomorrow, a cold air mass would keep temperatures low across central and northern Taiwan, and the eastern half of Taiwan proper, with isolated brief showers forecast along Keelung’s north coast, Taipei and New Taipei City’s mountainous areas and eastern Taiwan, it said. Lows of 11°C to 15°C are forecast in central and northern Taiwan, Yilan County, and the outlying Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties, and 14°C to 17°C
STEERING FAILURE: The first boat of its class is experiencing teething issues as it readies for acceptance by the navy, according to a recent story about rudder failure The Hai Kun (海鯤), the nation’s first locally built submarine, allegedly suffered a total failure of stern hydraulic systems during the second round of sea acceptance trials on June 26, and sailors were forced to manually operate the X-rudder to turn the submarine and return to port, news Web site Mirror Daily reported yesterday. The report said that tugboats following the Hai Kun assisted the submarine in avoiding collisions with other ships due to the X-rudder malfunctioning. At the time of the report, the submarine had completed its trials and was scheduled to begin diving and surfacing tests in shallow areas. The X-rudder,
RSS