Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
Citing Wang's reservations about the signature drive, KMT legislator and Central Standing Committee member Lee Chuan-chiao (
According to Lee, he cancelled the drive because Wang expressed concern over the initiative and the impact that it might have on the party.
"He thought that it was inappropriate for me to launch the signature drive, and he was worried that the campaign might confuse some party members," he said.
Lee had planned to solicit support from fellow legislators to back Wang as KMT chairman.
However, Lee said that he would respect Wang's wishes regarding the position, and that his drive would only be effective if current party Chairman Lien Chan (
Commenting on Ma's announced intention to run in the chairmanship election, Lee said that he thought it was a good thing, and that he and Ma are good friends.
Ma, who has been dogged by the media about whether he would campaign for the job, yesterday finally said that he "is willing to give it a try" for the sake of reforming the party, cooperation between the KMT and People First Party (PFP) and the integration of the pan-blue camp.
Ma's remark followed Lien's call yesterday for talented party members to take part in May's chairmanship election, as well as year-end elections of city mayors and county commissioners.
During the party's Lunar New Year greeting yesterday, Lien, who is currently out of the country, issued a statement to his fellow party members, calling for outstanding party members to come forward and strive for nominations for the two upcoming elections.
He also pledged to continue to safeguard the national interest, serve as a gatekeeper for national wealth and the taxpayers' money and push for party reform.
When asked about Ma's remark, Wang yesterday gave Ma his best wishes and congratulations, but remained evasive on his own intentions.
Wang reiterated that he will fully support Lien if the KMT chairman decides to seek re-election, but refused to say whether he would run if Lien doesn't. He also declined to say whether, if he decides not to run, who he will endorse Ma for the position.
DPP caucus whip Lai Ching-te (
New Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) caucus whip Lo Chih-ming (
"If the competition between Wang and Ma became too fierce, it might lead to Lien's seeking re-election," he said. "But if Lien eventually decides to let go, I think Wang would be a better choice for the party."
He also said that the KMT can only become a genuine localized political party if it lets Wang take the party's helm.
The PFP said that it had no intention of taking sides on the matter, and that it wishes the best of luck to both Wang and Ma. PFP Chairman James Soong's (宋楚瑜) show of neutrality was offset, however, by rumors yesterday that he is slated to meet with Wang tomorrow.
Before the Lunar New Year, reports indicated that Soong had refused a meeting with Ma after Ma's aides attempted to arrange one.
"I don't want to interfere with the internal affairs of any political party," Soong said, explaining that he had refused Ma's proposal to meet because he had only planned to meet with close friends and relatives over the Lunar New Year holiday.
"I had no intention of drawing Wang closer while pushing Ma away,'" Soong said.
Tropical Storm Usagi strengthened to a typhoon yesterday morning and remains on track to brush past southeastern Taiwan from tomorrow to Sunday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was approximately 950km east-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost point, the CWA said. It is expected to enter the Bashi Channel and then turn north, moving into waters southeast of Taiwan, it said. The agency said it could issue a sea warning in the early hours of today and a land warning in the afternoon. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was moving at
UPDATED FORECAST: The warning covered areas of Pingtung County and Hengchun Peninsula, while a sea warning covering the southern Taiwan Strait was amended The Central Weather Administration (CWA) at 5:30pm yesterday issued a land warning for Typhoon Usagi as the storm approached Taiwan from the south after passing over the Philippines. As of 5pm, Usagi was 420km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost tip, with an average radius of 150km, the CWA said. The land warning covered areas of Pingtung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春), and came with an amended sea warning, updating a warning issued yesterday morning to cover the southern part of the Taiwan Strait. No local governments had announced any class or office closures as of press time last night. The typhoon
DISCONTENT: The CCP finds positive content about the lives of the Chinese living in Taiwan threatening, as such video could upset people in China, an expert said Chinese spouses of Taiwanese who make videos about their lives in Taiwan have been facing online threats from people in China, a source said yesterday. Some young Chinese spouses of Taiwanese make videos about their lives in Taiwan, often speaking favorably about their living conditions in the nation compared with those in China, the source said. However, the videos have caught the attention of Chinese officials, causing the spouses to come under attack by Beijing’s cyberarmy, they said. “People have been messing with the YouTube channels of these Chinese spouses and have been harassing their family members back in China,”
At least 35 people were killed and dozens more injured when a man plowed his car into pedestrians exercising around a sports center in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai on Monday night. Footage showing bodies lying on the pavement appeared on social media in the hours after the crash, but had vanished by early Tuesday morning, and local police reported only “injuries.” It took officials nearly 24 hours to reveal that dozens had died — in one of the country’s deadliest incidents in years. China heavily monitors social media platforms, where it is common for words and topics deemed
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