Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
After learning that Wang was on a trip yesterday to his hometown of Kaohsiung to consult with supporters about the possibility of entering the chairmanship race, Ma said he has never expected to run unopposed, adding that having more candidates enter the race is better for the KMT because it means more people are interested in serving the party.
Noting that the KMT would begin candidate registrations after March 21, Ma said he would announce his candidacy in April, at which time he would begin seeking the sponsorship of party members to enter the race.
Meanwhile, Wang said yesterday that he still has to decide over the next few days whether he should run for the KMT chairmanship, but that if he does, the campaign would be rational and peaceful.
The politically-savvy speaker made the remarks while attending a ceremony marking the establishment of the "Friends of Jin-pyng in Kaohsiung County" support group. A similar group was established in Pingtung County the same day.
Wang said earlier that he wants incumbent KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
Wang, a legislator for 10 consecutive terms, expressed appreciation to his supporters, saying that the party, after losses in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, has faced a number of problems.
Wang also said he will consider whether he is fit to serve in the post, to continue the reforms started by Lien, integrate the KMT and its two splinter parties -- the New Party and the People First Party (PFP) -- and to deal with the controversial issue of party assets and inject new blood into the party to make it "Taiwanese."
Nipah virus infection is to be officially listed as a category 5 notifiable infectious disease in Taiwan in March, while clinical treatment guidelines are being formulated, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. With Nipah infections being reported in other countries and considering its relatively high fatality rate, the centers on Jan. 16 announced that it would be listed as a notifiable infectious disease to bolster the nation’s systematic early warning system and increase public awareness, the CDC said. Bangladesh reported four fatal cases last year in separate districts, with three linked to raw date palm sap consumption, CDC Epidemic Intelligence
Two Taiwanese prosecutors were questioned by Chinese security personnel at their hotel during a trip to China’s Henan Province this month, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. The officers had personal information on the prosecutors, including “when they were assigned to their posts, their work locations and job titles,” MAC Deputy Minister and spokesman Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) said. On top of asking about their agencies and positions, the officers also questioned the prosecutors about the Cross-Strait Joint Crime-Fighting and Judicial Mutual Assistance Agreement, a pact that serves as the framework for Taiwan-China cooperation on combating crime and providing judicial assistance, Liang
The manufacture of the remaining 28 M1A2T Abrams tanks Taiwan purchased from the US has recently been completed, and they are expected to be delivered within the next one to two months, a source said yesterday. The Ministry of National Defense is arranging cargo ships to transport the tanks to Taiwan as soon as possible, said the source, who is familiar with the matter. The estimated arrival time ranges from late this month to early next month, the source said. The 28 Abrams tanks make up the third and final batch of a total of 108 tanks, valued at about NT$40.5 billion
Reports of Taiwanese going missing, being detained or interrogated, or having their personal liberties restricted in China increased about fourfold annually last year, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. Last year, 221 Taiwanese who traveled to China were reported missing, were detained and interrogated, or otherwise had their personal freedom restricted, up from 55 the previous year, the council said. Reopening group tours to China would be risky, as it would leave travelers with no way to seek help through official channels after Beijing shut down dialogue between the associations tasked with handling cross-strait tourism, the MAC said. Taipei’s Taiwan Strait Tourism
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