Unconventional elements — such as Line accounts, quick response (QR) codes for Facebook groups and political cartoons — have become common sights on Nantou County’s official election notice as legislative candidates attempt to draw voters’ attention to their platforms in the run-up to the elections next Saturday.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislative candidate Ma Wen-chun (馬文君), campaigning for the seat representing the county’s first electoral district, included not only her campaign platform, but also her official Line account and a QR code linking to her Facebook group.
Taiwan Statebuilding Party legislative candidate Wu Cheng-jui (吳承叡), campaigning to represent the county’s second constituency, included a party-produced political cartoon and a QR code linking to more detailed information about the party’s goal and theme.
Photo: Liu Pin-chuan, Taipei Times
Democratic Progressive Party legislative candidate Chen Kuei-yu (陳癸佑), who is also campaigning to represent the second district, only listed his campaign platform, but it is meticulously organized, with each of his 10 policies described using the same number of words, which Chen said would facilitate reading.
Legislator-at-large nominees from the Taiwan People’s Party and the Congress Party Alliance not only included QR codes, but also miniature portraits of their parties’ leaders, hoping to gain supporters by proxy.
The Nantou County Election Commission has issued a reminder to voters, saying that they should refrain from stumping for candidates on election day.
Messages to vote for specific candidates — regardless of whether they are sent by text message, Line, Facebook or other social media — are prohibited, the commission said, adding that voters should not forward such messages on election day.
Regulations prohibiting such actions are to go into effect from midnight on Friday next week, the commission said, adding that infractions are punishable by fines of NT$500,000 to NT$5 million (US$16,609 to US$166,085).
Per Article 61 of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act (總統副總統選舉罷免法), cellphones and photography-related equipment are banned from voting stations and offenders could face one year in prison or be fined up to NT$30,000, it said.
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday expressed “grave concerns” after Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (黃循財) reiterated the city-state’s opposition to “Taiwanese independence” during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang (李強). In Singapore on Saturday, Wong and Li discussed cross-strait developments, the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “Prime Minister Wong reiterated that Singapore has a clear and consistent ‘one China’ policy and is opposed to Taiwan independence,” it said. MOFA responded that it is an objective fact and a common understanding shared by many that the Republic of China (ROC) is an independent, sovereign nation, with world-leading
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
DEFENDING FREEDOM: Taiwanese love peace and helping others, and hope to be a positive force in the world, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim told ‘Weltspiegel’ Taiwan is making every effort to prevent war in the face of China’s hybrid coercion tactics and military threats, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) said in an interview with German public broadcaster ARD’s program Weltspiegel that aired on Monday. Taiwan is not seeking provocation or intending to disrupt international order, but “must possess the capacity for self-defense,” a news release issued by the Presidential Office yesterday quoted her as saying. Taiwan is closely watching not only the increasing scope and frequency of Chinese military exercises around the nation, but also Beijing’s hybrid and cognitive warfare tactics, including manipulating public opinion, fostering
RSS