Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairperson Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) office yesterday said it had no further comment on a “groundless” report that Tsai would run for the DPP chairmanship in May’s election.
In a story headlined “Tsai to run for DPP chair,” the Chinese-language China Times yesterday quoted an unnamed DPP member as saying that Tsai had decided to run for the party’s top post, while quoting Tsai’s spokesperson Hung Yao-fu (洪耀福) as saying that the speculation was incorrect.
Tsai’s office said there was no need for further comment because Hung had dismissed the report.
“The office is concentrating on issues and policies on local economies, industrial upgrading, social welfare and charity programs in remote areas. We have yet to make an assessment on the chairman election,” the newspaper cited Hung as saying.
Both Tsai and DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) are seen as strong contenders to represent the party in the 2016 presidential election. Since Su is almost certain to seek re-election as chairman, Tsai’s next move has been a much discussed topic.
The chairmanship could be crucial for both Su and Tsai, who served as DPP chair between 2008 and last year, analysts say, because whoever is elected chairman would have the upper hand in securing the party’s presidential nomination.
Meanwhile, former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) has reportedly indicated an interest in the chairmanship race.
The US House of Representatives yesterday passed the PROTECT Taiwan Act, which stipulates that Washington would exclude China from participating in major global financial organizations if its actions directly threaten Taiwan’s security. The bill, proposed by Republican US Representative Frank Lucas, passed with 395 votes in favor and two against. It stipulates that if China’s actions pose any threat to Taiwan’s security, economic or social systems, the US would, “to the maximum extent practicable,” exclude China from international financial institutions, including the G20, the Bank for International Settlements and the Financial Stability Board. The bill makes it clear that China
Garbage and recycling schedules are to vary from Saturday through Sunday next week over the Lunar New Year holiday period. The following collection information is from the governments of the six special municipalities. Taipei Regular service: Sunday to Monday next week. No service: Tuesday to Thursday next week. Extra service: Friday next week. Regular service resumes: Saturday next week. New Taipei City Extra service: Sunday. Adjusted collection time: Monday next week — garbage collection is to begin in the morning and end at 6pm. No service: Tuesday to Thursday next week. Regular service resumes: Friday next week. Note: Garbage can be dropped off at 70
Taiwan’s Li Yu-hsiang performs in the men’s singles figure skating short program at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, on Tuesday. Li finished 24th with a score of 72.41 to advance to Saturday’s free skate portion of the event. He is the first Taiwanese to qualify for the free skate of men’s singles figure skating at the Olympics since David Liu in 1992.
The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) yesterday held a ceremony marking the delivery of its 11th Anping-class offshore patrol vessel Lanyu (蘭嶼艦), saying it would boost Taiwan’s ability to respond to Beijing’s “gray zone” tactics. Ocean Affairs Council Deputy Minister Chang Chung-Lung (張忠龍) presided over the CGA event in the Port of Kaoshiung. Representatives of the National Security Council also attended the event. Designed for long-range and protracted patrol operations at sea, the Lanyu is a 65.4m-long and 14.8m-wide ship with a top speed of 44 knots (81.5kph) and a cruising range of 2,000 nautical miles (3704km). The vessel is equipped with a
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