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."
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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