Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday urged China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) Chairman Chen Deming (陳德銘) to be “discreet in his behavior and words” during his visit to Taiwan ahead of next month’s elections after Chen said on Thursday that sometimes a politician with a high support rating causes disaster, citing Adolf Hitler as an example.
The Chinese-language Want Daily reported that Chen, when meeting Want Want Group (旺旺集團) chairman Tsai Eng-meng (蔡衍明) and other company executives on Thursday, said it is “not easy [for the media] to tell the truth” in an environment beset with “geopolitical struggles and complicated political contradictions.”
Chen said that while people do make correct judgements, sometimes it takes time for them to gain an understanding of the problems, citing Germany under the rule of Hitler during World War II as an example.
Photo: Chien Hui-ju, Taipei Times
“The German people elected Hitler as their leader with a big majority, which in the end caused a tragedy that was mourned by the whole world. Germany was the victim and the German people were subjected to the greatest woes,” Chen was quoted as saying.
The Chinese envoy referred to an English article saying that while most people know what the truth is, sometimes the truth can be veiled by fake appearances, especially in a society teeming with a plethora of information.
So the information needs to be sieved so that the fake can be separated from the truth, the report said.
Photo: Chang An-chiao, Taipei Times
Asked about Chen’s remarks yesterday, Tsai said that she does not perceive Chen’s visit in a negative way, but she hoped that Chen could gain a better understanding of Taiwan’s democracy, especially when the nation is in an election campaign period.
Tsai said that Chen has made certain remarks that have prompted discussion, adding that she hopes he would practice discretion when making comments during Taiwan’s election campaign period.
The DPP presidential candidate, who was presenting her education policies, was questioned about her policy on Chinese students. She said that the number of Chinese studying in Taiwan would not decrease if the DPP wins the presidential election.
“The policy of Chinese studying alongside Taiwanese is a policy worth continuing. There are certainly some details of the process that need to be handled with delicacy, but the DPP would keep an open mind on the issue,” she said.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old