President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday promoted his cross-strait policies and attributed the increase of foreign visitors to what he called “politically correct” policies under his administration.
Applauding the record number of tourists to Taiwan this year — which reached 6 million yesterday — Ma, who is seeking re-election with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), said the government’s efforts to maintain national security while improving cross-strait ties played a key role in boosting tourism.
“The most important factor behind the increase of foreign visitors is that we take national security issues seriously and have eased tensions across the Taiwan Strait and our efforts are recognized by the international community,” he said yesterday while presiding over the KMT’s Central Standing Committee meeting in Taoyuan County.
Photo: CNA
Ma lashed out at the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for failing to carry out its promise to double the number of foreign visitors to 5 million when it was in power and called on voters to support his administration as an experienced team that would bring Taiwan more opportunities.
“The number of foreign visitors increased from 3.7 million to 6 million and Chinese visitors only accounted for 30 percent. That’s because we’re politically correct and we’ve successfully lured more investment in the tourism industry with an open environment,” he said.
As DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) reiterated her plan to form a “Taiwan consensus” if elected, Ma defended his “three noes” policies — no unification, no independence and no use of force — as the main principle for cross-strait developments.
“The US and other nations applauded the systematization of cross-strait negotiation and achievements, including the US’ listing of Taiwan as a candidate for its visa-waiver program, proved that our policies have opened the door for Taiwan to more international participation,” he said.
Ahead of the Jan. 14 presidential and legislative elections, Ma urged full effort from KMT members in the campaign and expressed his confidence his party would secure victories in the elections.
“The whole party should spare no effort in fighting for victory. I believe that the victory will be ours if we work hard enough,” he said.
Earlier yesterday, Ma accompanied KMT legislative candidates to local markets in Greater Taichung, attracting crowds as he shook hands with vendors and supporters.
He later traveled to Miaoli as his four-day “home-stay” trip continued. He spent last night at the home of a local borough chief as part of efforts to consolidate support in Hakka constituencies, and was scheduled to canvass the streets of Miaoli City this morning.
An exhibition demonstrating the rejuvenation of the indigenous Kuskus Village in Pingtung County’s Mudan Township (牡丹) opened at the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency’s conservation station in Taipei on Thursday. Agency Director-General Lin Hwa-ching (林華慶) said they have been promoting the use and development of forestry resources to local indigenous residents for eight years to drive regional revitalization. While modern conservation approaches mostly stem from western scientific research, eco-friendly knowledge and skills passed down through generations of indigenous people, who have lived in Taiwan for centuries, could be more suitable for the environment, he said. The agency’s Pingtung branch Director-General Yang Jui-fen (楊瑞芬)
Traffic controls are to be in place in Taipei starting tonight, police said, as rallies supporting recall efforts targeting the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers as well as a rally organized by the KMT opposing the recall campaigns are to take place tomorrow. Traffic controls are to be in place on City Hall Road starting from 10pm tonight and on Jinan Road Section 1 starting from 8am tomorrow, police said. Recall campaign groups in Taipei and New Taipei advocating for the recall of KMT legislators, along with the Safeguard Taiwan, Anti-Communist Alliance (反共護台聯盟), have previously announced plans for motorcycle parades and public
A tropical depression near the northwestern Philippines is expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Danas by early tomorrow, becoming the fourth tropical storm of the season, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). As of 8am today, the system was located approximately 370 kilometers southwest of Taiwan's southern tip, Cape Eluanbi, and has developed a more organized structure, forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. The storm is currently moving slowly toward the Taiwan Strait in an east-northeast direction and may trigger a sea warning if it reaches tropical storm strength tomorrow morning. The system is expected to shift direction later tomorrow toward the north
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