Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) yesterday registered for the party’s chairmanship by-election on March 7 to replace former chairman Wu Den-yih (吳敦義).
Wu resigned last month after the party’s defeats in the Jan. 11 elections.
Chiang, who won re-election for a third term last month, told reporters at KMT headquarters in Taipei that many people have questioned whether the party should “re-discuss or adjust” its cross-strait stance.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
“If I am elected party chairperson, the necessary discussion or debate are things that should be done,” he said. “Every proposition, if I am the party chairperson, I would need to respect.”
“The most important thing is to be able to form a consensus after discussions,” he said, adding that the role of the party chair is to serve as “a platform for how to let this project of reforming and transforming [the KMT] run smoothly.”
Shortly before Chiang’s arrival, Chang Ya-chung (張亞中), a National Taiwan University political science professor who was interested in running, but does not qualify, as he has not been a member of the KMT Central Committee or Central Review Committee, arrived at KMT headquarters.
The party should begin its reform effort by allowing all members to run for the chairpersonship, Chang said.
The KMT “is not the Central Committee’s party, nor the Central Review Committee’s party or the Central Standing Committee’s party and much less the party chairperson’s party,” he said.
The KMT “belongs to all party members,” he added.
Former KMT vice chairman and Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) is expected to register today for the by-election, the final day for registrations.
Hau last week said that the KMT should debate whether its cross-strait policies require revision.
The basic consensus on both sides of the Taiwan Strait is the “1992 consensus,” Hau said.
However, the basis of the consensus has been undermined by the Democratic Progressive Party’s denial of the consensus, calling it the “one country, two systems” concept — as well as Beijing’s refusal to acknowledge the Republic of China (ROC), Hau said.
The so-called “1992 consensus,” a term former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) in 2006 said he made up in 2000, refers to a tacit understanding between the KMT and the Chinese government that both sides of the Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
Additional reporting by Lin Liang-sheng and CNA
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS