President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen made the vow during a campaign rally held in Kaohsiung City last night.
During the rally, Chen once again said that it was imperative that the pan-greens are successful in the legislative elections, adding that the pan-blues have exploited their majority in the legislature while attempting to paralyze the government over the past three years.
Chen said, when he took over the office of Taipei Mayor in 1998, he told Taipei's citizens that he would improve Taipei's notorious traffic situation within two years. After his determined efforts, the traffic situation was improved.
"I believed that if people of Taiwan could give us a chance and support the pan-green camp to win a majority in the legislature -- only give us two years and I promise that I will do a good job as a president and lead the country to become a great, normal and complete country," Chen said. "Otherwise, I am willing to step down as president."
Chen added that Kaohsiung City Government, which is supported by a pan-green controlled City Council, provides an example of a government that can really do something good for citizens.
Chen also promised that if the pan-greens win a majority in the legislature, the government will pass a National Pension Law (
Legislation governing the Resolution Trust Cooperation (
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday held a campaign rally in northern Kaohsiung City to boost its legislative candidates Kuan Pi-ling (
Noticeably, the five candidates did not boast about themselves. Instead, they showered praise on their fellow candidates, showing that the united pan-green campaign strategy and vote allocation plan is working.
Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh (
Meanwhile, early in the day before attending the rally in Kaohsiung City, President Chen Shui-bian (
There he called on people of different ethnic groups to get along with each other and stressed that only if Taiwan's people unite can the country face threats from outside.
"It is undeniable that Taiwan has different ethnic groups. But everyone has to know we only have one country," Chen said. "I believe that Taiwan has no ethnic problem, but only a problem of national identification."
In his speech, Chen redefined the "five ethnic groups" proposed by Sun Yat-sen (孫中山), pointing out that the five ethnic groups who reside in Taiwan are Hoklo, Hakka, Aborigine, Mainlanders and foreigners -- including brides from Southeast Asian countries and China.
"It is unnecessary for a small number of ethnic groups to bear historical burdens," Chen said. "Under the principle of the DPP's Resolution on Ethnic Diversity and National Unity, there was no oppressor and victim. Everyone is equal and everyone is the owner of the land."
Chen once again stressed that "Taiwan is the Republic of China, the Republic of China is Taiwan," asking people not to hold on to fantasies about the country's territory and to acknowledge the nation's reality.
Eight restaurants in Taiwan yesterday secured a one-star rating from the Michelin Guide Taiwan for the first time, while three one-star restaurants from last year’s edition were promoted to two stars. Forty-three restaurants were awarded one star this year, including 34 in Taipei, five in Taichung and four in Kaohsiung. Hosu (好嶼), Chuan Ya (川雅), Sushi Kajin (鮨嘉仁), aMaze (心宴), La Vie by Thomas Buhner, Yuan Yi (元一) and Frassi in Taipei and Front House (方蒔) in Kaohsiung received a one-star rating for the first time. Hosu is known for innovative Taiwanese dishes, while Chuan Ya serves Sichuan cuisine and aMaze specializes
Taitung County is to launch charter flights to Malaysia at the end of this year, after setting up flights to Vietnam and Thailand, the Taitung County Government said yesterday. The new charter flight services, provided by low-cost carrier Batik Air Malaysia, would be part of five-day tour packages for visits to Taitung County or Malaysia. The Batik Air charter flight, with about 200 seats, would take Malaysian tourists to Taitung on Dec. 30 and then at 12:35pm return to Kuala Lumpur with Taiwanese tourists. Another charter flight would bring the Taiwanese home on Jan. 3 next year, arriving at 5:30pm, before taking the
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