Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) today said that all candidates interested in vying for the party’s leadership are welcome, in response to reports that Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) was to challenge Chu in the upcoming election.
Chinese-language media reported that Lu expressed her intention to run as party chairperson before the third phase of recall campaigns targeting KMT lawmakers starts, citing their “existential danger to the party.”
Chu accompanied KMT Legislator Lee Yen-hsiu (李彥秀) this morning in a public demonstration against the recalls, where he called the reports of Lu’s candidacy “good, very good.”
Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times
Responding to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Ker Chien-ming’s (柯建銘) comment yesterday that at least 31 KMT legislators are to face recall votes, Chu said that Ker is a source of chaos and a major threat to Taiwan’s democracy.
Ker wishes to eliminate all opposition parties so that President William Lai (賴清德) can rule as a dictator, Chu said.
The recall movement, which has “brought shame to Taiwan’s democracy,” would fail once people stand up and vote against it, he said.
If the DPP becomes the majority in the Legislative Yuan, they would overturn recent laws passed to benefit the nation and its citizens, he added.
Outside of the recall movement, KMT members have also been embroiled in other controversies.
KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) is facing an investigation over alleged election gift-giving that have caused some to question his role in the party.
After some party members were accused of forging recall petition signatures, Chu compared Lai to Adolf Hitler, leading to several foreign offices condemning the comments.
Pundits have said that Lu’s candidacy could boost morale in the midst of these concerns.
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) today said that if South Korea does not reply appropriately to its request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, it would take corresponding measures to alter how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. The ministry said that it changed the nationality for South Koreans on Taiwan’s Alien Resident Certificates from “Korea” to “South Korea” on March 1, in a gesture of goodwill and based on the
The New Taipei Metro's Sanyin Line and the eastern extension of the Taipei Metro's Tamsui-Xinyi Line (Red Line) are scheduled to begin operations in June, the National Development Council said today. The Red Line, which terminates at Xiangshan Station, would be connected by the 1.4km extension to a new eastern terminal, Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station, while the Sanyin Line would link New Taipei City's Tucheng and Yingge stations via Sanxia District (三峽). The council gave the updates at a council meeting reviewing progress on public construction projects for this year. Taiwan's annual public infrastructure budget would remain at NT$800 billion (US$25.08 billion), with NT$97.3
Taiwanese officials were shown the first of 66 F-16V fighter jets purchased by Taiwan from the United States, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday, adding the aircraft has completed an initial flight test and is expected to be delivered later this year. A delegation led by Deputy Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) visited Lockheed Martin’s F-16 C/D Block 70 (also known as F-16V) assembly line in South Carolina on March 16 to view the aircraft. The jet will undergo a final acceptance flight in the US before being delivered to Taiwan, the
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