Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Legislator Tseng Tsahn-deng (
"I am sorry that I have embarrassed my party," Tseng said during a press conference at the TSU caucus office yesterday morning.
A poll was conducted to determine which of the two candidates should run in the Kaohsiung City's 3rd district to avoid competing for the pan-green vote.
Tseng said he would cooperate to increase the pan-green camp's chances of winning the legislative election by withdrawing.
"The facts are the facts. Now that pan-green supporters have decided they prefer Lee, I will sacrifice myself to make that happen. I will return to school and resume teaching," Tseng said.
In response to Tseng's withdrawal, Lee said he did not get any pleasure from defeating his rival.
"Tseng is a lawmaker recognized for his professional and passionate attitude. I admire him and am thankful for his help, but this means a greater responsibility has fallen on my shoulders," Lee said.
The pan-green vote may still be split in the Kaohsiung constituency as DPP Legislator Lin Chin-hsing (林進興) is campaigning for the same legislative seat.
"I haven't yet given up hope of negotiating with Lin," Lee said.
Meanwhile, TSU member Lan Chun-chieh (
Lan said that he had run for the legislature twice as a TSU candidate but lost both times.
"Running in the election as an independent candidate will boost my chances," he said.
In Taipei City's 1st district, the DPP's Kao Chien-chih (
"If we pan-greens compete against each other, it will be difficult for us to win," Kao said.
Three batches of banana sauce imported from the Philippines were intercepted at the border after they were found to contain the banned industrial dye Orange G, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. From today through Sept. 2 next year, all seasoning sauces from the Philippines are to be subject to the FDA’s strictest border inspection, meaning 100 percent testing for illegal dyes before entry is allowed, it said in a statement. Orange G is an industrial coloring agent that is not permitted for food use in Taiwan or internationally, said Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智), head of the FDA’s Northern Center for
LOOKING NORTH: The base would enhance the military’s awareness of activities in the Bashi Channel, which China Coast Guard ships have been frequenting, an expert said The Philippine Navy on Thursday last week inaugurated a forward operating base in the country’s northern most province of Batanes, which at 185km from Taiwan would be strategically important in a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Northern Luzon Command Commander Lieutenant General Fernyl Buca as saying that the base in Mahatao would bolster the country’s northern defenses and response capabilities. The base is also a response to the “irregular presence this month of armed” of China Coast Guard vessels frequenting the Bashi Channel in the Luzon Strait just south of Taiwan, the paper reported, citing a
UNDER PRESSURE: The report cited numerous events that have happened this year to show increased coercion from China, such as military drills and legal threats The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aims to reinforce its “one China” principle and the idea that Taiwan belongs to the People’s Republic of China by hosting celebratory events this year for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the “retrocession” of Taiwan and the establishment of the UN, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in its latest report to the Legislative Yuan. Taking advantage of the significant anniversaries, Chinese officials are attempting to assert China’s sovereignty over Taiwan through interviews with international news media and cross-strait exchange events, the report said. Beijing intends to reinforce its “one China” principle
A total lunar eclipse, an astronomical event often referred to as a “blood moon,” would be visible to sky watchers in Taiwan starting just before midnight on Sunday night, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said. The phenomenon is also called “blood moon” due to the reddish-orange hue it takes on as the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, completely blocking direct sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. The only light is refracted by the Earth’s atmosphere, and its red wavelengths are bent toward the moon, illuminating it in a dramatic crimson light. Describing the event as the most important astronomical phenomenon
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