President Chen Shui-bian (
"If life is like a jewelry box, A-chen [the nickname of his wife Wu Shu-chen (
The president said that Wu's physical condition has steadily deteriorated since a car hit her 17 years ago.
Her immune system has weakened and she needs daily physical therapy to prevent her muscles from atrophying.
"After our daughter got married, our son began serving in the army, and I became preoccupied with national affairs, I can fully understand her sense of loss and loneliness. I would do anything to please her," Chen stated. Wu has been confined to a wheelchair after a car struck her in 1974 and paralyzed her from the chest down.
But in Chen's mind, Wu has never been knocked down.
"With her perseverance and optimism, she has never been beaten. She is the most powerful and reliable person to me and my two children," he said.
The president sent his best wishes to all couples in the world by saying that he hoped that "they would eventually find their way to marriage."
In related news, seven couples joined the DPP at a ceremony held yesterday evening at Pitan, Taipei County -- a popular dating spot. The ceremony was presided over by Chen, who is also the party chairman.
Chen's wife was unable to attend the event because she is recovering from a digestive illness.
But the party's secretary-general Chang Chun-hsiung (
Sending their best wishes to all lovers, DPP officials said that by holding such an event, they hoped to add a bit of levity and compassion to the political environment.
Some of the couples are married, and some are not. Some of them met through DPP events, and some of them were colleagues in DPP offices.
The is the second time a large group has entered the party since Chen became chairman on July 21.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
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