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."
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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