The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday said that it would not attend today’s Double Ten National Day celebrations, but shrugged off any link between its decision and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration’s ongoing hunt for the KMT’s ill-gotten assets.
“The KMT caucus has decided not to attend tomorrow’s Double Ten National Day ceremony since the DPP caucus was absent from such events when the KMT was in power,” KMT caucus convener Liao Kuo-tung (廖國棟) said.
Asked whether the decision was prompted by efforts by President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration to recover the KMT’s ill-gotten assets, Liao said: “Why would it have anything to do with party assets?”
Photo: CNA
The decision is primarily due to the DPP’s disrespect of minority parties and its absence from previous Double Ten National Day celebrations, Liao said.
The KMT’s attendance at future National Day ceremonies will hinge on the DPP’s behavior, Liao said, adding that it would make an appearance should the ruling and opposition parties reach a reconciliation.
DPP caucus chief executive Wu Ping-jui (吳秉叡) said it would be better for the KMT caucus to boycott the ceremony than to try to sabotage it.
New Power Party caucus convener Hsu Yung-ming (徐永明) said he would represent the caucus at today’s celebrations.
As access to the Double Ten National Day ceremony, which is to take place in front of the Presidential Office Building from 9am to noon, is closed to the public, the Ministry of the Interior is encouraging people to watch online (www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQCApNs7LNw&feature=youtu.be).
Among the politicians who are to attend today’s ceremony are former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), former vice president Wu Den-yih (吳敦義), People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) and Republican Party Chairwoman Hsu Hsin-ying (徐欣瑩).
The Taichung Prison yesterday afternoon said that it had not approved an application by former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), who is on medical parole, to attend.
KMT Chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) declined to attend without giving an explanation.
KMT Culture and Communications Committee director Chow Chi-wai (周志偉) downplayed speculation that Hung’s no-show is also due to the handling of the KMT’s potential ill-gotten assets.
“It is natural for the public to harbor such an opinion, but I am not going to comment on this. All I know is that Ms Hung will not be attending tomorrow morning’s ceremony,” Chow said.
Tsai only attended National Day celebrations once during Ma’s two terms in office, in October last year, when she decided to show up as part of her call for political reconciliation and tolerance.
HOT-SPRING RETREAT: A hotel in Japan incurred a loss of about US$1,846 after a Taiwanese man failed to show up for his reservation due to a misunderstood message A Taiwanese man who failed to show up for a hotel reservation in Japan has apologized and offered compensation, the hotel said yesterday. The man, surnamed Lee (李), reserved a room at the Yufuin Tsubaki hot-spring hotel in Oita for the Lunar New Year holiday, but failed to show up on Friday. Lee yesterday called the hotel to apologize and offered to compensate the losses caused by his failure to show up, a hotel employee surnamed Yashiro said. Lee’s wife also called on Sunday to apologize, she said. Lee had booked a two-night stay with upscale seafood and beef meals, the hotel said. His
Two Taiwanese Americans were among those killed in a mass shooting at a dance studio in Monterey Park, California, on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles (TECO LA) said it contacted local authorities, who confirmed that two of the 11 killed in the shooting were Taiwanese Americans. “TECO LA conveys our heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families, and sends our prayers to the injured for a speedy recovery,” it said in a statement. The office said it is assisting the relatives of one of the victims to travel from
A senior US senator on Monday questioned the willingness of some US allies to help defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion. Although Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) expects the US and Japan to respond in a war in the Taiwan Strait, he was “a little less confident what our other allies would do,” US Senator John Cornyn said. Australia and New Zealand have voiced support for Taiwan, but it “is a far cry from committing troops to repel an invasion,” Cornyn said during a discussion on China, Russia and the state of US military readiness at a forum hosted
Whisky connoisseurs are a rapidly growing demographic in Taiwan, driving prices ever higher as collectors vie for the most coveted editions. Although not a new pastime, whisky collection has been picking up steam in recent years. According to the Scotch Whisky Association, Taiwan was the third-largest buyer of Scotch whisky in 2021 in monetary terms. One collector, surnamed Fu (傅), said there are many types of whisky that are ripe for collecting. One that has skyrocketed in price in recent years is the Macallan 12-year-old Gran Reserva, which bears a striking purple label, said Fu, who has more than 10 years of experience as