Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) founder and Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday vowed to end political wrangling and extend goodwill to China, as he officially launched his campaign for next year’s presidential election.
Ko told a news conference in New Taipei City’s Tamsui District (淡水) that he was determined to run for president because he believed that the country should be united, not divided, that it should be a facilitator of dialogue, not a “chess piece” between the US and China, that it should be Ilha Formosa, a beautiful island, rather than “the most dangerous place on Earth,” as described by The Economist.
The former Taipei mayor spent the majority of his speech slamming the policies of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which he said has been unable to address shortages of energy, water, labor, land and professionals, which had plunged young people into despondency.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
He said there has been a lack of fiscal discipline in budgeting for the Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program, and in bailing out businesses and people whose finances were affected by COVID-19.
There has been a lack of concrete action in pushing for judicial reform and the establishment of an “e-government,” he said.
The DPP seems powerless when tackling the low birthrate and aging population, Ko said, adding that it has not put forward any plans to cushion the effects of its goal to transform Taiwan into a carbon-neutral country by 2050.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
On cross-strait policies, Ko said he would work to restore communication channels between Taiwan and China on the condition that Taiwan’s free and democratic political system and way of life are maintained.
Ko said he would extend goodwill toward China to reduce the risk of war and bring about peace in the Taiwan Strait, on the condition that this can be achieved with parity and dignity.
He said that he would ensure the armed forces are trained and capable of fighting, so that the military would not fear or court war.
Taiwan’s autonomy and maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait is crucial to ensure prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, he said.
He vowed to unite the major political parties and end long-standing bickering that has caused society to “stall,” by forming a coalition government and inviting political leaders to attend a conference on pressing national affairs, so that consensus could be formed on how to move the nation forward.
If elected, he said he would abide by Article 4-3 of the Additional Articles of the Constitution (憲法增修條文) and make oral reports to the Legislative Yuan, which would end the trend of the president wielding great power without having to assume responsibility for their administration.
Taiwan, faced with challenges, is at the crossroads of destiny, he said, adding that people should trust him as he sets out to build a “new Taiwan.”
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS