Former DPP heavyweight, Wei Yao-chieh (魏耀乾) is challenging DPP candidate Su Huan-chih (蘇煥智) by running as an independent in a bid to be Tainan County's next county commissioner.
Born into a conservative Tainan family that had close links to the KMT, Wei was an unlikely political dissident. But an influential friendship with then Taipei City Councilor Frank Hsieh (
Originally trained as a dentist, Wei said his political awakening came after the 1979 murders of former DPP chairman Lin I-hsiung's (
PHOTO: YANG CHIN-CHENG, TAIPEI TIMES
Later, in his six years as a DPP legislator, Wei frequently resorted to fist fights to make his point, often referring to his time as a dentist by saying he was going to "pull the tiger's teeth."
Noting that his time as a hardliner is over, Wei said that he now just wants to get his ideas on social welfare out into the open, regardless of whether he wins or loses the race.
"The county should integrate with [nearby] Tainan City and Chiayi County and develop into a Singapore-style economic hub for contract manufacturers' packing and marketing," Wei said.
Reiterating his pledge to take care of the elderly, Wei said that he has been greatly moved by those people over 70 years old who have attended his recent campaign rallies. He said that most of the county's older population is looking to the future commissioner to ensure that they are taken care of in their old age.
"My perspectives on social welfare differ from those of the DPP," Wei said, adding that he is fighting for the interests of the middle and lower classes.
Wei said that the ideal leader for the county would speak for disadvantaged farmers and workers and ensure that a sound social security system be put in place for them.
"Also, he should assist small and medium-sized enterprises to create new business opportunities, which will then bring in employment opportunities and income for local families," Wei said.
Placing a distant third in opinion polls, Wei has stayed in the race despite pleas from the DPP to bow out.
Denying arguments that his candidacy threatens Su's chances of winning, Wei said he might actually help Su take the county.
"I can win the votes of DPP members that turn against Su so that they don't all go to the KMT's Wu Ching-chi (
‘UNFRIENDLY’: Changing the nationality listing of Taiwanese residents to ‘China’ goes against EU foreign policy as well as democratic and human rights principles, MOFA said Taiwan yesterday called on Denmark to correct its designation of the nationality of Taiwanese residents as “China” or face retaliatory measures. The Danish government in 2024 changed the nationality of Taiwanese citizens on their residence permits from “Taiwan” to “China.” The decision goes against EU foreign policy and contravenes democratic and human rights principles, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) said. Denmark should present a solution acceptable to Taiwan as soon as possible and correct the erroneous designation to preserve the longstanding friendship between the two nations, Hsiao said. The issue could damage Denmark’s image and business reputation in Taiwan,
KEY INDUSTRY: The vice premier discussed a plan to create a non-red drone supply chain by next year, which has been allocated a budget of more than NT$7.2 billion The government has budgeted NT$44.2 billion (US$1.38 billion) to cultivate Taiwan’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) industry over the next five years, which would make the nation a major player in the industry’s democratic supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday. Cho made the remarks during a visit to the facilities of Cub Elecparts Inc (為升電裝). Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Su-yueh (陳素月) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝依鳳) also participated in the trip. Cub Elecparts has transitioned from the automotive industry to the defense industry, which is the top priority among the nation’s
SUFFICIENT: The president said Taiwan has enough oil for next month, with reserves covering more than 100 days and natural gas enough for 12 to 14 days A restart plan for the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里) and the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township (恆春) would be submitted to the Nuclear Safety Commission by the end of the month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, reversing the government’s policy to abolish nuclear energy. On May 17 last year, Taiwan shut down its last nuclear reactor and became the first non-nuclear nation in East Asia, fulfilling the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government’s pledge of a “nuclear-free homeland.” Even without nuclear power, Taiwan can maintain a stable electricity supply until 2032,
DEROGATORY: WTO host Cameroon’s designation of Taiwan as a ‘province of China’ seriously undermines the nation’s status and rights as a WTO member, MOFA said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday condemned Cameroon for listing Taiwan as “Taiwan, Province of China” in visa documents for an upcoming WTO ministerial conference, a move that led to Taiwan’s withdrawal from the event. The designation “seriously undermined” Taiwan’s status and rights as a WTO member, the ministry said in a statement. It is the first time since 2001 that Taiwan has declined to attend a WTO Ministerial Conference. The conference is scheduled to take place from Thursday to Sunday next week in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon. Taiwan had planned to send a delegation led by Minister Without Portfolio
RSS