A local Chinese-language newspaper yesterday reported that KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) said that the KMT will for the first time hold its anniversary celebrations in Kaohsiung.
The paper said the celebrations, which will be held in the square in front of the city government on Nov. 24, are an attempt to drum up support for Huang Jun-ying (黃俊英), the KMT candidate in the upcoming election for Kaohsiung mayor.
According to the report, preparations are already completed. KMT legislator and former mayor of Kaohsiung, Wu Den-yih (吳敦義), will participate in the proceedings. There will also be a "mystery guest."
The article went on to say that support for Huang is slowly on the rise and the gap between him and incumbent Mayor Frank Hsieh's (謝長廷) popularity ratings is shrinking. Lien therefore believes Huang stands a good chance of winning the race for the mayorship, the paper said.
It also says that the KMT will use the event to "demonstrate its ability to govern and its strength in financial issues." The party's "ability to rule" will reportedly be embodied at the event by Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
The report says most attention will, however, be given to the "mystery guest," who, despite the opposition camp's failure to field a single candidate for the elections, is expected to be none other than PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜).
The report says the KMT has chosen Soong because he has voiced support for voting for the candidate with the greatest chance of winning. Should he appear on stage, therefore, it would be tantamount to Lien and Soong stumping as a team to get Huang elected as the mayor of Kaohsiung.
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
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