Four pro-independence heavyweights will give statements today expressing their views on the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) four presidential hopefuls -- who have recently discussed their platforms at presidential primary debates -- and on next year's presidential election.
Wu Li-pei (吳澧培), a former senior adviser to the president and a prominent pro-independence advocate, told the Taipei Times yesterday that they would not endorse any specific candidate or party, but would make a joint statement on the DPP's candidates and the election.
"Our opinions will be detached from parties and individuals because none of us are members of the DPP," he said.
PHOTO: CHEN TSE-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
In addition to Wu, former presidential adviser Peng Ming-min (
Wu said that former presidential adviser Koo Kwang-ming (
Koo ran a half-page ad in Chinese-language newspapers on Thursday expressing his views about the DPP's four presidential hopefuls, as well as the country's political situation and its relations with China and the US.
Koo asked former premier Frank Hsieh (
Koo complimented Premier Su Tseng-chang (
Praising DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun for being someone who "represents Taiwan's values and preferences," Koo said Yu was a real politician who "courageously and honestly painted a future direction for the country and made correct political decisions."
Koo stopped short of endorsing Yu, however.
Koo made no mention of Vice President Annette Lu (
While Koo said in the ad that his "observations and judgment" tell him that the DPP's presidential candidate will be the country's next president, Wu said that he was not as certain.
"Didn't we hear many people say at the height of the corruption scandal concerning President Chen Shui-bian's (
"So now the DPP will definitely win the election?" he asked.
Wu said the DPP stood little chance of winning the election if its presidential aspirants continued to attack each other during their campaigns, adding that the country would be doomed if the DPP lost the election.
PRAISE: Japanese visitor Takashi Kubota said the Taiwanese temple architecture images showcased in the AI Art Gallery were the most impressive displays he saw Taiwan does not have an official pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, because of its diplomatic predicament, but the government-backed Tech World pavilion is drawing interest with its unique recreations of works by Taiwanese artists. The pavilion features an artificial intelligence (AI)-based art gallery showcasing works of famous Taiwanese artists from the Japanese colonial period using innovative technologies. Among its main simulated displays are Eastern gouache paintings by Chen Chin (陳進), Lin Yu-shan (林玉山) and Kuo Hsueh-hu (郭雪湖), who were the three young Taiwanese painters selected for the East Asian Painting exhibition in 1927. Gouache is a water-based
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck eastern Taiwan's Hualien County at 2:23pm today, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). The epicenter of the temblor was 5.4 kilometers northeast of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 34.9 km, according to the CWA. The earthquake's intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was the highest in Hualien County, where it measured 2 on Taiwan's 7-tier intensity scale. The quake also measured an intensity of 1 in Yilan county, Taichung, Nantou County, Changhua County and Yunlin County, the CWA said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
‘WORSE THAN COMMUNISTS’: President William Lai has cracked down on his political enemies and has attempted to exterminate all opposition forces, the chairman said The legislature would motion for a presidential recall after May 20, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said yesterday at a protest themed “against green communists and dictatorship” in Taipei. Taiwan is supposed to be a peaceful homeland where people are united, but President William Lai (賴清德) has been polarizing and tearing apart society since his inauguration, Chu said. Lai must show his commitment to his job, otherwise a referendum could be initiated to recall him, he said. Democracy means the rule of the people, not the rule of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), but Lai has failed to fulfill his
OFF-TARGET: More than 30,000 participants were expected to take part in the Games next month, but only 6,550 foreign and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have registered Taipei city councilors yesterday blasted the organizers of next month’s World Masters Games over sudden timetable and venue changes, which they said have caused thousands of participants to back out of the international sporting event, among other organizational issues. They also cited visa delays and political interference by China as reasons many foreign athletes are requesting refunds for the event, to be held from May 17 to 30. Jointly organized by the Taipei and New Taipei City governments, the games have been rocked by numerous controversies since preparations began in 2020. Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng (林延鳳) said yesterday that new measures by
RSS