Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Taipei Mayor-elect Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) stood out among his rivals due to his energy, his die-hard supporters and his relative openness to discuss issues such as same-sex marriage, a political analyst said yesterday.
Chiang’s campaign was also aided by his family’s background in politics, which helped him garner greater support in Taipei where there is a large KMT base, said the analyst, who chose to remain anonymous.
“Chiang is also not a typical KMT member when it comes to certain issues, such as gay marriage, and his more open stance widened his support base — particularly among young voters,” the analyst said.
Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo, EPA-EFE
Democratic Progressive Party Taipei mayoral candidate Chen Shih-chung’s (陳時中) image was hurt by the methods of his campaign team, which were not in line with the honest image of the former health minister that the DPP had been pushing, they said.
Chiang’s platform was comparatively narrow, focusing on COVID-19-related issues such as vaccine procurement, they said.
“There was a perception that his campaign team was cautious on other issues, but its strategy was to avoid making mistakes and simply wait for the other candidates to slip up — and that proved effective,” the analyst said.
Photo: Lo Pei-de, Taipei Times
During her concession speech yesterday, independent Taipei mayoral candidate Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) said she hopes Chiang fulfills his campaign promises, retains reforms made during her tenure as deputy mayor and “allow Taipei to continue to progress.”
“I feel like I’ve already won, having gone up against two major parties,” she said, adding that Taipei residents were still wary of independent candidates.
Political commentators yesterday evening said that President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who is also DPP chairperson, would face a tougher time leading the nation given that her party lost 13 of 22 cities and counties in the elections.
Chinese National Federation of Industries chairman Matthew Miao (苗豐強) urged the newly elected officials to be pragmatic, and to focus on energy policies and reducing carbon emissions, along with other issues that benefit all of society.
Taiwan must also exercise “respect and prudence” to allow it to survive strategic competition between the US and China, he said.
The government should also seek peaceful cross-strait relations that facilitate a safe business environment, and accelerate Taiwan’s entrance into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, he said, adding that this would “create a balanced and complete regional industrial ecology.”
Third Wednesday Club chairman Lin Por-fong (林伯豐) also emphasized economic concerns, saying that the government should promote the signing of bilateral trade agreements, or free-trade agreements, with other countries, and review energy policies so that Taiwan can meet the energy needs of industry.
He also called on the government to seek better relations with China.
Taishin chairman Thomas Wu (吳東亮) said that businesses were pleased with candidates’ policy discussions leading up to the local elections, on issues such as industry, long-term care, daycare and education.
The public closely followed the candidates’ political policies, which showed growth in Taiwan’s democratic development, he said.
Wu said he hoped the newly elected county and municipal leaders would devote more resources to boosting local economies and development, and divide the work on key issues with the central government.
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
A KFC branch in Kaohsiung may be fined between NT$60,000 and NT$200 million (US$1,907 and US$6.37 million), after a customer yesterday found an entire AAA battery inside an egg tart, the Kaohsiung Department of Health said today. The customer was about to microwave a box of egg tarts they had bought at the fast-food restaurant’s Nanzih (楠梓) branch when they checked the bottom and saw a dark shadow inside one of them, they said in a Threads post. The customer filmed themself taking the egg tart apart to reveal an entire AAA battery inside, which apparently showed signs of damage. Surveillance footage showed
GROUP EFFORT: The number of inbound travelers rose 11 to 12 percent last month, with a significant increase in tourists from Europe and North America, an official said The government aims to attract 9.4 million visitors this year, the Tourism Administration said yesterday, citing last year’s success in diversifying tourist markets. Taiwan last year drew about 8.57 million international arrivals, 72.3 percent of pre-COVID-19 levels. By contrast, the nation had about 18.94 million outbound tourists last year, surpassing the pre-COVID-19 level of 17.1 million. The estimated tourism revenue deficit was about NT$700.9 billion (US$22.22 billion). Taoyuan International Airport Corp expects more than 160,000 passengers to pass through the nation’s largest airport daily during the Lunar New Year holiday, which begins on Saturday. As of Jan. 30, the nation’s average hotel occupancy rate
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