After weeks of hesitation, Legislative Speaker and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Vice Chairman Wang Jin-pyng (
At a press conference yesterday morning, Wang pledged to reform the KMT while urging unity in the pan-blue camp. He played down expectations of a divisive battle between him and the only other declared candidate for the party chairmanship, Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
"At this moment, the mission of the party chairman is to unite the party and its allies, win the hearts of the people, allow the party to take back the government, win back Taiwan and create glory," Wang said yesterday in a speech declaring his candidacy.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Wang pledged to support retaining the national title of the Republic of China, reform the party by making the legislature a focus, make more party posts elected positions, resolve the party's troubled financial situation and respect the rights of party employees.
Wang made his announcement yesterday at the Taipei Sheraton Hotel to supporters and more than 60 KMT legislators, who attended to show their support for his candidacy.
While yesterday's announcement had long been anticipated, Wang reiterated his previous statement that should incumbent KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) decide to make a re-election run, he would back out of the chairmanship race.
While Wang's competitor Ma has been open about his intent to run since last month, Wang had been unclear about running until last week, and had encouraged Lien to run for another term.
Wang emphasized that there is no animosity between him and Ma.
Ma supporters KMT Legislators Wu Yu-sheng (
There is no power struggle between Ma and Wang, Wu said yesterday, but rather a "contest between gentlemen" Wu said.
In fact, Wu and Lai emphasized, their appearance yesterday came after a phone call from Ma urging them to go in his stead to offer his regards to Wang.
Recently, there have been numerous reported conflicts between the two KMT heavyweights over the party chairmanship race's voting regulations.
Alluding to widespread speculation that both his and Ma's desires to run for chairman are fueled by presidential ambitions, Wang hinted that he might not run in the 2008 presidential election if made chairman.
"The upcoming KMT chairmanship election is not a battle for a `stepping stone' position for the 2008 presidential election," Wang said. "If our hopes for becoming the governing party again are to be realized, I am willing to sacrifice without regrets."
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
CHIPS AND DEFENSE: Trump said the US had lost its chip business and Taipei should pay it for defense, and added that ‘we’re no different than an insurance company’ Taiwan-US relations are solid, and both sides are in agreement that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region are everyone’s concern, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday following comments by former US president Donald Trump that Taiwan “should pay” for US defense. Taiwan is thankful to the US for supporting Taiwan’s bid to participate in international organizations, Cho told a news conference in Taipei. “I know the people very well, respect them greatly. They did take about 100 percent of our chip business,” Trump told Bloomberg on June 25 in an interview that was published on Tuesday. “I think
SHOW OF SUPPORT: Taiwan has been one of the largest buyers of US defense equipment, supporting American businesses and jobs, US lawmakers said Taiwan has been paying for its own defense, a US Department of State official said on Wednesday, adding that purchases of military equipment are important to the US economy and for ensuring regional security. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller was asked at a news conference about comments by former US president Donald Trump, the Republican nominee in November’s US presidential election, who said during an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek that Taiwan should pay Washington for its defense needs. “The purchases that they [Taiwan] have made not only are important, we believe, to regional security, but are important to the United States economy,”
Hsu Wen-erh (許汶而) on Friday became the first Taiwanese to swim solo across the English Channel, saying she was very happy to bring Taiwan to the world. Hsu completed the challenge in 12 hours, 17 minutes and eight seconds, after swimming across the Strait of Gibraltar in October last year. She said she had planned to swim the English Channel in August next year, but seized the opportunity when a vacancy became available on the waiting list. She went to the UK in May to train for a test that involves swimming for six hours at 16°C, which people who want to swim