Former premier William Lai (賴清德) yesterday urged the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to begin discussing its presidential primary and called for an “anti-annexation law” against China.
Lai said that when meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), “there was no discussion on how to conduct a primary, only requests that I quit.”
“That is not the approach the DPP should take,” he added.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
If the party convenes a second meeting with him and Tsai, he hopes they will begin talking about a primary, Lai said.
He made the remarks at an event to oppose China’s annexation of Taiwan organized by a coalition of pro-independence groups in Taipei.
While the groups had invited primary candidates from all parties to share their view on countering the Chinese threat, only Lai attended, Taiwan Society chairman Chang Yeh-sen (張葉森) said.
Wu Hsiang-hui (吳祥輝), a political pundit, said he not only opposes China annexing Taiwan, but also opposes “President Tsai Ing-wen annexing Lai.”
Lai said that Tsai has so far not said she would support him if he won the primary, but has instead been making suggestions that someone should be running as a vice president,
“That is against the spirit of democracy,” Lai said, adding that a vice president should be determined after the primary.
“Emphasizing how someone should be a vice president during a primary is an election strategy not worth pursuing,” he said.
Since he has registered for the primary, he hopes to follow it through, Lai said.
As a democratic party, the DPP should adhere to its democratic procedures and allow primary candidates the opportunity to promote their platforms and lobby for support, he said.
“As a pragmatic political worker for Taiwanese independence, my national strategy is to promote stability in the nation and peace abroad,” he said.
To counter the Chinese Communist Party’s influence, the government should ensure the safety and sovereignty of Taiwan through increased collaboration with the US and other countries, he said.
It should also promote an anti-annexation law or anti-infiltration law, he said.
He urged people to think of the presidential and legislative elections next year as “a fight against China’s annexation and “one country, two systems” proposal, as well as a fight to ensure Taiwan’s sovereignty, human rights, and democratic and free way of life,” he said.
It would also be an opportunity to oppose a peace treaty with China, he said, adding that Beijing’s peace treaty with Tibet led to the exile of the Dalai Lama and the loss of many lives.
The experiences of Hong Kong and Tibet indicate that “the only path to happiness for Taiwan is independence and autonomy,” he said.
At a separate event in Taipei, Tsai told reporters that supporters would like to see Lai run as her vice president next year.
“One plus one is definitely bigger than two, and that is what our supporters hope to see,” she said.
Asked if she would like to meet with Lai soon, Tsai said she respects the party’s arrangements.
Asked about a rumor that the primary would be canceled due to pressure from her, the president said: “It is indeed a rumor — and a very malicious one.”
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
UNKNOWN TRAJECTORY: The storm could move in four possible directions, with the fourth option considered the most threatening to Taiwan, meteorologist Lin De-en said A soon-to-be-formed tropical storm east of the Philippines could begin affecting Taiwan on Wednesday next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The storm, to be named Fung-wong (鳳凰), is forecast to approach Taiwan on Tuesday next week and could begin affecting the weather in Taiwan on Wednesday, CWA forecaster Huang En-hung (黃恩鴻) said, adding that its impact might be amplified by the combined effect with the northeast monsoon. As of 2pm yesterday, the system’s center was 2,800km southeast of Oluanbi (鵝鑾鼻). It was moving northwest at 18kph. Meteorologist Lin De-en (林得恩) on Facebook yesterday wrote that the would-be storm is surrounded by
RSS