Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (
The weekend charters would be expanded to normal cross-strait flights within one year of his inauguration, Ma said.
"The timetable was an estimation made by the airline industry. With the advancement of charter flights, negotiating with China on weekend charter flights will be easier and faster," Ma said before attending the Taipei press launch for his new book, Managing the Nation: Winning Strategies for Taiwan, in which Ma and his running mate Vincent Siew (
Opening up direct links and relaxing regulations on investment will encourage Taiwanese businesspeople in China to repatriate their investments, he said.
Ma said he would also allow more Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan, which would help to revive the economy.
"The economy is much more important than other issues to the people. Most of them want to see a change in the political environment next year to save the economy," he said.
Citing the South Korean presidential election on Wednesday, which was won by former Seoul mayor Lee Myung-bak, Ma said that the Taiwanese would also prioritize the economy and would choose the candidates who would help to improve the economy.
For his part, Siew said Lee's victory highlighted the fact that South Koreans had denounced government corruption and "dirty tricks" campaigning.
"South Korea is moving forward and Taiwan should move forward, too. Otherwise we will be eliminated," Siew said. "South Koreans' choice of their new leader is something Taiwanese should think about."
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
The Taipei Summer Festival is to begin tomorrow at Dadaocheng Wharf (大稻埕), featuring four themed firework shows and five live music performances throughout the month, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said today. The festival in the city’s Datong District (大同) is to run until Aug. 30, holding firework displays on Wednesdays and the final Saturday of the event. The first show is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by Aug. 13, 20 and 30. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Disney Pixar's movie Toy Story, the festival has partnered with Walt Disney Co (Taiwan) to host a special themed area on
BE CAREFUL: The virus rarely causes severe illness or death, but newborns, older people and those with medical conditions are at risk of more severe illness As more than 7,000 cases of chikungunya fever have been reported in China’s Guangdong Province this year, including 2,892 new cases last week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday said it is monitoring the situation and considering raising the travel notice level, which might be announced today. The CDC issued a level 1 travel notice, or “watch,” for Guangdong Province on July 22, citing an outbreak in Foshan, a manufacturing hub in the south of the province, that was reported early last month. Between July 27 and Saturday, the province reported 2,892 new cases of chikungunya, reaching a total of 7,716
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
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