Vice President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday said that he would strive to ensure Taiwan’s security in the face of increasing Chinese threats, shortly after registering to run in the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) presidential primary.
Lai, who is DPP chairman, completed his registration at the party’s headquarters in the company of former Pingtung County commissioner Pan Men-an (潘孟安).
Registration to run in the DPP’s primary is open until tomorrow.
Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters
Lai told reporters after registering that he was “extremely determined” to run for the country’s top job on the DPP ticket and urged Taiwanese to give him an opportunity to lead the country.
“We must be united to strengthen Taiwan, stick to the democratic camp and ensure Taiwan’s security” in the face of increased Chinese “saber rattling” and “unscrupulous diplomatic bullying,” Lai said.
Lai, 63, added that he would strive to bring the nation’s people together to expand the economy, safeguard democracy, bolster national defense and ensure peace in Taiwan.
His comments came hours after Honduran President Xiomara Castro said her government would begin planning for the “opening of official relations with the People’s Republic of China.”
Asked about the matter, Lai, who held a meeting with Castro in Tegucigalpa in January last year shortly after she was sworn into office, gave no response.
In addition to talking tough on China, Lai also said he would seek to bring prosperity to Taiwan by rolling out development projects, boosting the economy and fighting organized crime.
He would lead the country through challenges, including achieving its net zero emissions targets, mitigating the impact of the war in Ukraine and restructuring supply chains, he said.
From Taiwan’s opposition parties, Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and New Party cofounder Wang Chien-shien (王建?) have announced their intention to run for president.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) member Chang Ya-chung (張亞中) has announced his intention to run, but the party has yet to decide whether it would hold a primary.
Chinese-language media have reported that New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密) founder Terry Gou (郭台銘) and KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) are seeking the KMT’s nomination.
The election is scheduled for Jan. 13 next year.
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