The New Power Party (NPP) yesterday named Keelung City Councilor Chen Wei-chung (陳薇仲) and neurologist Chan Chih-chun (詹智鈞) as its respective candidates for Keelung mayor and Pingtung County commissioner for the local elections on Nov. 26.
Since it was founded in 2015, the party had never officially fielded a candidate to run for the head of a local government, NPP Chairwoman Chen Jiau-hua (陳椒華) told a news conference in Taipei.
The nominations of Chen Wei-chung and Chan demonstrate the party’s “ambition” to further its efforts for the benefit of the people and expand its influence across the country, Chen Jiau-hua said.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
Chen Wei-chung, who was first elected to the Keelung City Council in 2018, said that she has held the city government to account over the past four years, focusing on traffic issues, long-term care and policies involving children.
During her stint on the city council, she has also pushed for more public participation in Keelung’s affairs, such as introducing the practice of “participatory budgeting” so that the city’s residents can have more of a say in how the government utilizes taxpayers’ money, Chen Wei-chung said.
She added that she wanted to run for mayor to bring about positive change to the city, which has a population of about 361,300.
The 31-year-old city councilor is to face off against former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑). The Democratic Progressive Party has yet to announce its candidate.
Meanwhile, Chan, who works at Fooyin University Hospital in Pingtung and chairs the NPP’s Pingtung chapter, said the county has rich natural resources, but is affected by serious pollution, such as last year’s oil spill caused by inappropriate management and the illegal dumping of waste by private firms.
This pollution has had a great effect on the county and its 801,200 residents, resulting in a declining population, Chan said, pledging to focus on addressing these problems if elected.
However, the county commissioner race is likely to be challenging for Chan, as he is to face off against DPP Legislator Chou Chun-mi (周春米) and former KMT lawmaker Su Ching-chuan (蘇清泉).
Minister of Sports Lee Yang (李洋) today said the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association (CTBA) has been urged not to undermine Taiwan’s credibility in international competitions, after a Taiwanese team advanced to the semi-finals of the 45th William Jones Cup over the Philippines last week due to a controversial new rule guaranteeing a semi-final place to the host team. The Republic of China Blue team advanced to the semi-finals after winning just one game in the group round due to a “host guarantee” spot, overtaking the Philippines, who held a 5-1 record ahead of the semi-finals. The Blue team finished the tournament
A sea warning for Typhoon Saudel, which has shifted to a more northerly track as it nears Taiwan, is expected early tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. As of this morning, Saudel was about 650km east-northeast of Taipei, moving west-northwest at 12kph with maximum sustained winds of 162kph, CWA data showed. Although Saudel remains a moderate typhoon, it has weakened and is expected to weaken further as it nears Taiwan due to unfavorable atmospheric and ocean conditions, CWA forecaster Lin Po-tung (林伯東) said. The storm is forecast to make its closest approach to Taiwan tomorrow and on Friday, Lin added. According to
SEA WARNING EXPECTED: As atmospheric conditions are unfavorable for its development, the storm’s intensity is continuing to weaken, a CWA official said Typhoon Saudel is continuing to weaken and shift its path northward, with a sea warning expected to be issued this evening, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency did not rule out issuing a land warning for outlying Lienchiang County (Matsu) tomorrow morning, although all storm warnings could be lifted by Friday night. Saudel is expected to be closest to Taiwan from tomorrow night to Friday, bringing localized heavy rain to northern and southern Taiwan, as well as central mountainous areas, the agency said. As of 2pm yesterday, the center of moderate Typhoon Saudel was about 890km east-northeast
MODERATE TYPHOON: Localized heavy rain is forecast to hit central and southern Taiwan, the CWA said, adding that the storm would likely move away on Saturday A sea warning for Typhoon Saudel, which shifted to a more northerly track as it approached Taiwan, is likely early today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 2pm yesterday, the center of typhoon was about 630km northeast of Taipei, moving west-northwest at 14kph with maximum wind gusts of up to 162kph, CWA data showed. Saudel is a moderate typhoon and is expected to weaken as it nears Taiwan due to atmospheric and ocean conditions, CWA forecaster Lin Po-tung (林伯東) said. A sea warning indicates hazardous typhoon conditions in waters surrounding Taiwan within 24 hours, Lin said. The storm is forecast to