Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) ended months of speculation yesterday when he turned down Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) invitation to be his running mate.
"I was hoping for `Ma-Wang cooperation' before seeking a `Ma-Wang ticket,' but [former] chairman Ma wanted an answer immediately. I thanked him for his invitation, but it's been very busy in the legislature, so I had to decline," Wang said after a closed-door meeting with Ma at Wang's home.
Although there will be no "Ma-Wang ticket," Wang said he would cooperate with Ma in pushing for KMT victory in both the legislative and presidential elections.
PHOTO: WANG YI-SUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Wang said that he and Ma were still divided on many issues, including campaign platforms, future policies and goals, as well as the KMT's assets problem.
"Without reaching a consensus on these issues, the problems will not disappear merely as a result of our pairing up," he said.
Refusing to comment on whether he would join Ma's campaign team, Wang said that he would focus on his work in the Legislative Yuan for now.
Standing next to Wang, Ma said he was disappointed by Wang's decision, but added that he would start searching for another running mate.
"I haven't put any effort into searching for other possible vice presidential candidates, so I will have to start the search now," Ma said.
Ma declined to comment on who he might consider as running mate, but said he hoped to find someone who would complement him and help win the presidential election.
The KMT is expected to formally nominate a presidential and vice presidential candidate during its party congress on June 24, which leaves Ma less than three weeks to find a running mate.
Wang yesterday accused the KMT of damaging his relationship with Ma by spreading rumors that he had negotiated with KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (
The Chinese-language China Times and United Daily News reported Wu had promised Wang that he would be in charge of domestic policies as vice president, while Ma would focus on national defense and international relations.
"Chairman Wu brought up the issue, but I asked him to stop talking about power distribution. The newspapers, however, claimed that I had been the one to raise the topic. Ridiculous!" Wang said.
He urged the KMT not to spread any rumors that would jeopardize the trusting relationship between him and Ma.
Wang also denied having delayed his reply to Ma's invitation.
"I informed chairman Ma of my decision a long time ago. The public has been misinformed," he said.
Ma acknowledged that Wang had turned down his offer in April at a meeting with former KMT secretary-general Chan Chun-po (
Ma said he would support Wang's decision to stay in the legislature, and called for party unity.
The former Taipei mayor said that they had informed former KMT chairman Lien Chan (
Ma said that he and Wang would not reconsider.
Ma formally offered Wang the vice presidential ticket on May 9.
Wang had said last Saturday that he would rather speak of "Ma-Wang cooperation" than a "Ma-Wang ticket."
Wu has previously denied talking to the media about his meeting with Wang and dismissed reports that he had asked Wang to reserve a certain amount of power for him as vice president if he accepted Ma's offer.
Wu said in a statement that he had urged Wang to pair up with Ma to increase the party's odds in the presidential election and had not addressed the power issue.
Also see story:
Editorial: Where are Taiwan's real leaders?
The Central Weather Bureau could issue a sea alert for Super Typhoon Mawar, as it is forecast to turn north and come closest to Taiwan from Tuesday to Wednesday next week. Mawar was downgraded from a super typhoon to a typhoon after sweeping across Guam on Wednesday night, knocking down trees and leaving much of the US territory without power. Many residents of Guam yesterday remained without power and utilities after Mawar tore through the remote US Pacific territory the previous night, ripping roofs off homes, flipping vehicles and shredding trees. There were no immediate reports of deaths and injuries, but the
ADJUSTMENTS: Over the next five years, every year except 2026 would have only one makeup workday to compensate for national holidays, the government said The Executive Yuan (EY) yesterday announced the official workday calendar for next year, which includes one makeup day and four holidays with more than three days off. It also announced new standards for makeup days in the event of consecutive holidays. The Directorate-General of Personnel Administration cited the importance of the Lunar New Year and Tomb Sweeping holidays to the public as its reason to mandate flexible off-days. The 115 total off-days dovetail with dates that international financial markets are closed, minimizing the effects of state holidays on stock and currency exchange trading, it said. Over the next five years, only the calendar for
EMBRACE CHANGE: Jensen Huang told NTU graduates that instead of worrying about AI itself, they should worry that people with expertise in AI would be taking their jobs Artificial intelligence (AI) is redefining the computer industry, and Taiwanese companies could play a major role in replacing the world’s traditional computers as they are the foundation of the industry, Nvidia Corp cofounder and CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) said in Taipei yesterday. Huang made the remarks while giving the keynote speech at National Taiwan University’s (NTU) commencement ceremony. AI has created immense opportunities, and versatile companies can be expected to take advantage and boost their position, while less flexible firms would perish, he said. “In every way, this is a rebirth of the computer industry and a golden opportunity for the companies of
‘ARCHAIC’: An interpretation of a law that considered Chinese as Taiwanese nationals was scrapped after the death of a Chinese in Kaohsiung led to state reparations An administrative mandate to consider Chinese as Taiwanese citizens was outdated, Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) said yesterday, a day after the Executive Yuan ordered that agencies disregard the 30-year-old interpretation. Chen made the remarks at an event held by the Environmental Protection Administration in Taipei following changes to the administrative mandate concerning the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例). The previous interpretation of the law was archaic and contrary to the workings of laws and regulations, he said, adding that the order was made to avoid unnecessary problems created by the mandate. The Mainland