Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (
Blue is the color associated with the KMT and its People First Party (PFP) ally.
"I have been a loyal member of the KMT in the past, and that's what I am now and will be in the future," Hu told a press conference while wearing KMT stickers on his face.
"I am curious to know how the rumor came about saying that I am cozying up to the pan-green camp and that my political stance is shaking," said Hu, who is also director of the KMT-PFP alliance's Taichung campaign office.
In an effort to prove his blue credentials, Hu was splashed with green paint to symbolize the allegations he was leaning toward the pan-green camp. Hu then removed his green-stained jacket to reveal a blue T-shirt.
Hu was recently featured in a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) TV campaign ad which showed footage of the Taichung mayor approving of the DPP's efforts to develop the city.
In response to the ad, Hu said that the DPP had misused his statement and that the DPP should have asked for his permission before incorporating his remarks into the ad.
Noting that the support rates for President Chen Shui-bian's (
In return, Lien yesterday spoke of his recognition of Hu's efforts in the presidential campaign and accused the DPP of trying to sow discord among pan-blue members.
"I think it is clear to all that [the DPP] has been resorting to all sorts of tricks in an attempt to drive a wedge between the mem-bers of the KMT-PFP alliance," said Lien, who has joined with his PFP counterpart James Soong (
"All of our [pan-blue] local chiefs have all been wholeheartedly engaged in the alliance's campaign work," Lien said. "And their efforts are much appreciated."
Meanwhile, the pan-blue alliance yesterday released another TV campaign ad promoting the Lien-Soong ticket.
The ad featured an office worker who sparked a series of increasingly serious mishaps because he missed the trash can when attempting to shoot a piece of garbage into it.
The US House of Representatives yesterday passed the PROTECT Taiwan Act, which stipulates that Washington would exclude China from participating in major global financial organizations if its actions directly threaten Taiwan’s security. The bill, proposed by Republican US Representative Frank Lucas, passed with 395 votes in favor and two against. It stipulates that if China’s actions pose any threat to Taiwan’s security, economic or social systems, the US would, “to the maximum extent practicable,” exclude China from international financial institutions, including the G20, the Bank for International Settlements and the Financial Stability Board. The bill makes it clear that China
Garbage and recycling schedules are to vary from Saturday through Sunday next week over the Lunar New Year holiday period. The following collection information is from the governments of the six special municipalities. Taipei Regular service: Sunday to Monday next week. No service: Tuesday to Thursday next week. Extra service: Friday next week. Regular service resumes: Saturday next week. New Taipei City Extra service: Sunday. Adjusted collection time: Monday next week — garbage collection is to begin in the morning and end at 6pm. No service: Tuesday to Thursday next week. Regular service resumes: Friday next week. Note: Garbage can be dropped off at 70
Taiwan’s Li Yu-hsiang performs in the men’s singles figure skating short program at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, on Tuesday. Li finished 24th with a score of 72.41 to advance to Saturday’s free skate portion of the event. He is the first Taiwanese to qualify for the free skate of men’s singles figure skating at the Olympics since David Liu in 1992.
The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) yesterday held a ceremony marking the delivery of its 11th Anping-class offshore patrol vessel Lanyu (蘭嶼艦), saying it would boost Taiwan’s ability to respond to Beijing’s “gray zone” tactics. Ocean Affairs Council Deputy Minister Chang Chung-Lung (張忠龍) presided over the CGA event in the Port of Kaoshiung. Representatives of the National Security Council also attended the event. Designed for long-range and protracted patrol operations at sea, the Lanyu is a 65.4m-long and 14.8m-wide ship with a top speed of 44 knots (81.5kph) and a cruising range of 2,000 nautical miles (3704km). The vessel is equipped with a
RSS