Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou's (
The party's Central Standing Committee (CSC) yesterday passed Ma's appointment of KMT Legislator Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) as its new secretary-general and Yang Chao-nong (楊炤濃) (also known as Yang Tu, 楊渡), former deputy editorial writer at the Chinese-language newspaper the China Times, as the chairman of the Culture and Communications Committee.
KMT Secretary-General Chan Chun-po (詹春柏) will be promoted to serve as the party's vice chairman, while Acting Culture and Communications Committee Chairman Huang Yu-cheng (黃玉振), who also serves as KMT spokesman, will become vice chairman of the party's Policy Committee.
The recruitment of Yang and Su Jin-pin (蘇俊賓), chief of the Taoyuan County Government's environmental protection bureau, as new party spokesman, did not require approval from the CSC as the position was not a first-level position.
While Ma's appointments were expected, many CSC members were dissatisfied with the recruitment of Yang and Su, criticizing their lack of party loyalty.
Yang only applied to join the party last Friday.
"He only joined the KMT for the position ? [Ma's use of people] could prompt the party's systems to fall apart, because no one will want to stay at the low levels and fight for the party," KMT Legislator Ting Shou-chung (
Although a KMT member and former assistant to KMT Legislator Shyu Jong-shyoung (
"I suggested that the party give the younger generation more of a chance ... The one who criticized the KMT is now invited to become its spokesperson, this is quite controversial," KMT Legislator Yao Chiang-lin (
Ting said that the KMT should allow the CSC to cast votes on the appointment of the party's spokesman and its committee chairman.
"Otherwise anyone who wants to be a top-level KMT official can criticize the party and then the next moment join the party," he added.
Shyu and KMT Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (
"I believe in Su's capability and loyalty to the party. Many KMT members could be more critical of the party," Shyu said.
CSC member Lee De-wei (
Receiving the petition from Lee, Ma said that the KMT welcomed different voices, but he declined to make further comments on his appointments.
Facing growing concern from party members, Ma later urged party members to embrace people with different backgrounds and give them an opportunity to prove themselves, while inviting Su and Yang to present their future goals to the CSC after tomorrow's hand-over ceremony.
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
INCREASED CAPACITY: The flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays would leave Singapore in the morning and Taipei in the afternoon Singapore Airlines is adding four supplementary flights to Taipei per week until May to meet increased tourist and business travel demand, the carrier said on Friday. The addition would raise the number of weekly flights it operates to Taipei to 18, Singapore Airlines Taiwan general manager Timothy Ouyang (歐陽漢源) said. The airline has recorded a steady rise in tourist and business travel to and from Taipei, and aims to provide more flexible travel arrangements for passengers, said Ouyang, who assumed the post in July last year. From now until Saturday next week, four additional flights would depart from Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, Friday
The Ministry of National Defense yesterday reported the return of large-scale Chinese air force activities after their unexplained absence for more than two weeks, which had prompted speculation regarding Beijing’s motives. China usually sends fighter jets, drones and other military aircraft around the nation on a daily basis. Interruptions to such routine are generally caused by bad weather. The Ministry of National Defense said it had detected 26 Chinese military aircraft in the Taiwan Strait over the previous 24 hours. It last reported that many aircraft on Feb. 25, when it spotted 30 aircraft, saying Beijing was carrying out another “joint combat
Taiwan successfully defended its women’s 540 kilogram title and won its first-ever men’s 640 kg title at the 2026 World Indoor Tug of War Championships in Taipei yesterday. In the women’s event, Taiwan’s eight-person squad reached the final following a round-robin preliminary round and semifinals featuring teams from Ukraine, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Basque Country and South Korea. In the finals, they swept the Basque team 2-0, giving the team composed mainly of National Taiwan Normal University students and graduates its second championship in a row, and its fourth in five years. Team captain
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