Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday criticized his Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) counterpart of lacking sincerity by making random comments on running mate choices.
"[KMT presidential candidate] Ma Ying-jeou (
"If he keeps picking his running mates one after another, his final running mate may feel as if he or she were regarded as a second-class choice," he said.
Hsieh made the comments yesterday in response to a press query on media speculation that Ma could invite former vice premier Tsai Ing-wen (
Yesterday's Chinese-language China Times and United Daily News each quoted anonymous sources close to Ma's campaign as saying that Ma could consult Tsai on the possibility of teaming up for next year's presidential election.
The newspapers said that Tsai had been included to the list of Ma's potential running candidates because of her substantial financial expertise and administrative experience.
The reports added that having Tsai as his running mate could help Ma expand his public support since Tsai is well regarded by both pan-blue and "light-green" supporters.
Ma was forced to find another vice presidential candidate after Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) on Thursday ended months of speculation by turning down Ma's invitation to be his running mate.
Wang cited hectic work at the legislature as the reason for his decision.
Despite a KMT caucus resolution on Friday urging Ma and Wang to pair up, Wang said yesterday that his decision remained unchanged and that he had clearly stated his reasons.
Asked about his choice of a running mate, Hsieh yesterday said he would not make any hasty comments because doing so would be disrespectful to the candidate who would eventually pair up with him.
Hsieh is expected to gather the opinion of various sources, kicking off yesterday with a month-long plan to visit grassroots movements and various townships around the country.
Commenting on the media reports, DPP Legislator Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) said Ma's campaign was trying to exploit Tsai's popularity by including Tsai in the list.
DPP Legislator Lin Yu-sheng (
KMT Legislator Shyu Jong-shyoung (
Additional reporting by staff writer
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.
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
‘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
RSS