Pan-blue supporters in southern Taiwan last night were excited by two campaign events staged by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)-People First Party (PFP) alliance to promote the candidacy of its presidential candidate.
In a political division of labor for the third night in a row, the alliance's presidential hopeful, KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰), last night played to a huge crowd at the Garden Night Market in Tainan City and the Tahu Night Market in Kaohsiung County. His running mate, PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), rallied the pan-blue electorate in Taipei County's Hsichuang Stadium.
Entering the stage amid round of fireworks, blaring air horns and cheers of "Vote for Lien-Soong on March 20" chanted by fervent pan-blue supporters, Lien said he was touched by the warm welcome displayed by the crowd and called on supporters to turn their moral support into votes on Saturday.
Lien told the crowd that he and his running mate have been up against an unfair adversary given that Soong and him were just ordinary people without the abundant resources of President Chen Shui-bian (
Lien then took the opportunity to criticize the performance of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) which he claimed should take the blame for the nation's growing suicide rate, unemployment rate and other social disorder.
Saying that the first transfer of power four years ago was an unsuccessful one, Lien called on to supporters to cast their vote for him "to stage a successful, second transfer of power on March 20."
"It is easy in a democratic country. People support you when you do a good job, and when you don't, you should be replaced and let others take over," Lien said, as his remarks were echoed by zealous pan-blue supporters waving flags and blowing air horns.
In his speech, the pan-blue camp's presidential candidate restated his campaign pledges, including that he would donate his income to charity and a adopt a "negative return tax system" should he win the presidency.
The negative return tax system means that if the annual income of the people does not reach the level of minimum income, the government will subsidize the shortfall.
Lien then repeated his pledge to create an all-volunteer military and also his commitment to form a "clean" administration should he be elected.
PFP Vice Chairman Chang Chao-hsiung (張昭雄) and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), who doubles as the director-general of the alliance's national campaign headquarters, were among the pan-blue camp's prominent figures at the rally.
Expressing his confidence in a win by Lien on Saturday, Wang also took the opportunity to urge supporters not to let the heat of the ongoing presidential campaign lacerate their personal relations with their friends and relatives, who may harbor different political views.
Earlier in the day, Lien took part in street procession in Taipei County and toured around the region's Luchou and Hsichuang areas on an open-top jeep, appealing to passers-by for support.
Making the hand gesture for victory, which also coincides with his ballot number "2," Lien told passers-by that "the number two symbolizes the second transfer of power."
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-Wong tomorrow, which it said would possibly make landfall near central Taiwan. As of 2am yesterday, Fung-Wong was about 1,760km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving west-northwest at 26kph. It is forecast to reach Luzon in the northern Philippines by tomorrow, the CWA said. After entering the South China Sea, Typhoon Fung-Wong is likely to turn northward toward Taiwan, CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張峻堯) said, adding that it would likely make landfall near central Taiwan. The CWA expects to issue a land
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it is expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-wong this afternoon and a land warning tomorrow. As of 1pm, the storm was about 1,070km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, and was moving west-northwest at 28 to 32kph, according to CWA data. The storm had a radius of 250km, with maximum sustained winds of 173kph and gusts reaching 209kph, the CWA added. The storm is forecast to pass near Luzon in the Philippines before entering the South China Sea and potentially turning northward toward Taiwan, the CWA said. CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張峻堯) said
PREPARATION: Ferry lines and flights were canceled ahead of only the second storm to hit the nation in November, while many areas canceled classes and work Authorities yesterday evacuated more than 3,000 people ahead of approaching Tropical Storm Fung-wong, which is expected to make landfall between Kaohsiung and Pingtung County this evening. Fung-wong was yesterday morning downgraded from a typhoon to a tropical storm as it approached the nation’s southwest coast, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, as it issued a land alert for the storm. The alert applies to residents in Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Taitung counties, and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春). As of press time last night, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Yilan, Miaoli, Changhua, Yunlin, Pingtung and Penghu counties, as well as Chiayi city and county had
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday issued a sea alert for Typhoon Fung-wong (鳳凰) as it threatened vessels operating in waters off the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島), the Bashi Channel and south of the Taiwan Strait. A land alert is expected to be announced some time between late last night and early this morning, the CWA said. As of press time last night, Taoyuan, as well as Yilan, Hualien and Penghu counties had declared today a typhoon day, canceling work and classes. Except for a few select districts in Taipei and New Taipei City, all other areas and city
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