Criticism directed at Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate and Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) from within the party are inappropriate and unfair, former KMT chairman Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀住) said yesterday, while denying a rumor that the party is seeking to replace Han with Hon Hai Precision Industry founder Terry Gou (郭台銘) for the presidential race.
KMT Central Advisory Committee member Chen Hung-chang (陳宏昌) on Sunday said the party nominated a candidate who knows nothing but playing mahjong, womanizing and drinking.
Hung said the criticism was “sad to hear,” but added that Chen “was not that kind of person,” citing their years as colleagues in the legislature.
Regardless of whether he has changed over the years, grew distant from the party or felt that Han was not the best candidate, it was inappropriate and unfair to make such comments, even if they were made to “give face” to President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Hung said.
Chen made the remarks while accompanying Tsai on her visit to New Taipei City’s Yonglian Temple.
As for Chen likening the KMT revoking his membership to an act by the Red Guards, Hung said the party would lack discipline if it took no action against him, adding that she would respect Han’s decision whether to take Chen to court.
As for rumors that Gou would partner with former legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) and is waiting for the KMT to switch candidates, Hung said that it is impossible for the party to do so unless Han bowed out himself.
Hung said the party should have a “pocket candidate” as contingency, but added that its chances of winning the presidential election on Jan. 11 next year would “not be optimistic” if it swapped candidates at the last moment again.
In October 2015, four months before the 2016 presidential election, the KMT replaced then-presidential candidate Hung with then-New Taipei City mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫), who lost the race to Tsai.
The current electoral situation is worrisome, Hung said, but added that she is certain that Gou is sincere in his intention to “do something” for Taiwan.
The KMT’s presidential primary results were no doubt a great setback for him, Hung said.
Gou last month lost the primary to Han by 17 percentage points.
Hung called on the public not to criticize Gou and Wang too much and said that the party should give their supporters some time to calm down.
The KMT should try to keep them within the party, as “unity makes strength,” Hung said.
Hung said she did not know whether Gou would run as an independent and renounce his party membership, adding that she was also unclear about Wang saying: “Heaven knows what will happen ... but I am a man of my word,” while promising not to leave the KMT.
Yangmingshan National Park authorities yesterday urged visitors to respect public spaces and obey the law after a couple was caught on a camera livestream having sex at the park’s Qingtiangang (擎天崗) earlier in the day. The Shilin Police Precinct in Taipei said it has identified a suspect and his vehicle registration number, and would summon him for questioning. The case would be handled in accordance with public indecency charges, it added. The couple entered the park at about 11pm on Thursday and began fooling around by 1am yesterday, the police said, adding that the two were unaware of the park’s all-day live
A former soldier and an active-duty army officer were yesterday indicted for allegedly selling classified military training materials to a Chinese intelligence operative for a total of NT$79,440. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office indicted Chen Tai-yin (陳泰尹) and Lee Chun-ta (李俊達) for contravening the National Security Act (國家安全法) and the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例). Chen left the military in September 2013 after serving alongside then-staff sergeant Lee, now an army lieutenant, at the 21st Artillery Command of the army’s Sixth Corps from 2011 to 2013, according to the indictment. Chen met a Chinese intelligence operative identified as “Wang” (王) through a friend in November
Minister of Digital Affairs Lin Yi-ching (林宜敬) yesterday cited regulatory issues and national security concerns as an expert said that Taiwan is among the few Asian regions without Starlink. Lin made the remarks on Facebook after funP Innovation Group chief executive officer Nathan Chiu (邱繼弘) on Friday said Taiwan and four other countries in Asia — China, North Korea, Afghanistan and Syria — have no access to Starlink. Starlink has become available in 166 countries worldwide, including Ukraine, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, in the six years since it became commercial, he said. While China and North Korea block Starlink, Syria is not
The Grand Hotel Taipei has rejected media reports claiming that the hotel had prevented CBS from broadcasting coverage of the Beijing summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) on its premises. Media reports alleging that the hotel owner, dissatisfied with CBS’s coverage, prohibited the network from broadcasting political content on the hotel premises, are not true, the hotel said in a statement issued last night. The reports were “inconsistent with how the hotel actually handled the matter,” it said. The hotel said it received a refund request from a
RSS