Opponents of the KMT's presidential candidate say that the party is up to its old tricks again, engaging in widespread vote-buying.
But Lien Chan's (
Members of DPP presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian's (
According to Chiou I-jen (邱義仁), Chen's campaign manager, 49 new cases were discovered this week, bringing the total to 53, suggesting that more cases of vote-buying would surface in the days before the election.
"The KMT is a rotten party with innovative ways to buy votes," Chiou said, adding that common rewards included so-called "transportation stipends," free meals, and expensive goods given as gifts.
At a press conference yesterday, Chiou showed a notification issued by the Association of Electric Engineering Technicians which explained to members that the transportation stipend -- NT$500 for each person -- would be available for all participants, even non-members, at a coming campaign rally for Lien.
Other examples illustrated by Chen's camp included reports that NT$10,000 was being given to each supportive ward chief, as were silver coins similar to those given to military officials after the 921 earthquake, and NT$2,000 gift certificates placed inside Chinese New Year greeting cards sent by high-ranking KMT officials.
Chen's campaigners also released a TV commercial yesterday to remind voters not to take money from either candidates or their supposed representatives.
The commercial describes a sleeping man, bribed by candidates, being awakened suddenly by the frightening expression in the eyes of Han dynasty-era official Kuan-kung (
Chen apparently intends to influence voters by using the traditional representative of justice in ancient China, who has for centuries been celebrated as a deity.
It was also reported by local media yesterday that speculation is growing over the rumors that Lien's camp is spending NT$8 billion to buy four million ballots -- meaning each voter would receive NT$2,000 on average.
Representatives for Lien responded by saying that the KMT would bring forward evidence proving that it is in fact the other candidates who are buying votes if the smear campaign against the KMT didn't stop.
"It looks like the thieves themselves are asking the police to catch others (
It was also reported yesterday that the Ministry of Justice would mobilize supporters for a Lien parade scheduled for today, and that funds for buying bottled water would be made available.
Prosecutor General of the Supreme Court Lu Jen-fa (
LONG FLIGHT: The jets would be flown by US pilots, with Taiwanese copilots in the two-seat F-16D variant to help familiarize them with the aircraft, the source said The US is expected to fly 10 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 70/72 jets to Taiwan over the coming months to fulfill a long-awaited order of 66 aircraft, a defense official said yesterday. Word that the first batch of the jets would be delivered soon was welcome news to Taiwan, which has become concerned about delays in the delivery of US arms amid rising military tensions with China. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the initial tranche of the nation’s F-16s are rolling off assembly lines in the US and would be flown under their own power to Taiwan by way
OBJECTS AT SEA: Satellites with synthetic-aperture radar could aid in the detection of small Chinese boats attempting to illegally enter Taiwan, the space agency head said Taiwan aims to send the nation’s first low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite into space in 2027, while the first Formosat-8 and Formosat-9 spacecraft are to be launched in October and 2028 respectively, the National Science and Technology Council said yesterday. The council laid out its space development plan in a report reviewed by members of the legislature’s Education and Culture Committee. Six LEO satellites would be produced in the initial phase, with the first one, the B5G-1A, scheduled to be launched in 2027, the council said in the report. Regarding the second satellite, the B5G-1B, the government plans to work with private contractors
MISSION: The Indo-Pacific region is ‘the priority theater,’ where the task of deterrence extends across the entire region, including Taiwan, the US Pacific Fleet commander said The US Navy’s “mission of deterrence” in the Indo-Pacific theater applies to Taiwan, Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen Koehler told the South China Sea Conference on Tuesday. The conference, organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), is an international platform for senior officials and experts from countries with security interests in the region. “The Pacific Fleet’s mission is to deter aggression across the Western Pacific, together with our allies and partners, and to prevail in combat if necessary, Koehler said in the event’s keynote speech. “That mission of deterrence applies regionwide — including the South China Sea and Taiwan,” he
‘NARWHAL’: The indigenous submarine completed its harbor acceptance test recently and is now under heavy guard as it undergoes tests in open waters, a source said The Hai Kun (海鯤), the nation’s first indigenous defense submarine, yesterday began sea trials, sailing out of the Port of Kaohsiung, a military source said. Also known as the “Narwhal,” the vessel departed from CSBC Corp, Taiwan’s (台灣國際造船) shipyard at about 8am, where it had been docked. More than 10 technicians and military personnel were on deck, with several others standing atop the sail. After recently completing its harbor acceptance test, the vessel has started a series of sea-based trials, including tests of its propulsion and navigational systems, while partially surfaced, the source said. The Hai Kun underwent tests in the port from
RSS