Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) announced yesterday that she has no intention of running for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chair in the Jan. 15 by-election.
"I've never had any intention of entering the DPP chairmanship election. I only want to help party members conduct the election in a fair manner," Lu, said yesterday in a written statement issued by the DPP's culture and publicity department.
Lu also said in the statement that instead of entering the race, she was more interested in seeing the DPP elect a new leader who can "help revitalize the party, accelerate democratic reform and also help Taiwan meet all the challenges presented by globalization."
"As acting chairwoman, I will work with party members to improve the party's discipline, integrity and overall spirit," her statement read.
Lu was nominated as acting chairwoman during a DPP Central Standing Committee earlier this month after former chairman Su Tseng-chang (
Lu already created a stir earlier this week after announcing her intention to resign as acting chair but then deciding to stay in the post. Facing speculation that she may run for the chairmanship election, Lu clarified the issue yesterday with her statement.
Meanwhile, DPP Legislator Chai Trong-rong (
"The DPP suffered a major setback in the elections because it has failed to insist on the ideals of `Taiwan first' and integrity first ? that is why I have decided to step forward and fight for a better future for Taiwan," he said yesterday while filling out the registration form and presenting the required deposit of NT$1.5 million (US$44,776) at the party's headquarters.
Presidential Office Secretary-General Yu Shyi-kun, who Thursday made public his decision to run in the race, said yesterday that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) had already approved his resignation.
The party's chairmanship election promises to be a hotly-contested race with several DPP heavyweights expected to be among the candidates.
DPP Secretary-General Lee Yi-yang (李逸洋) said party members who are interested in running for the post will be able to register from tomorrow until Dec. 20. A review of candidates' qualifications will be held on Dec. 21.
The results of the election will be announced on Jan. 18, Lee said.
A televised debate between the candidates is also scheduled.
In related news, an open letter addressed to all DPP members from former party chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄) yesterday said that it was inappropriate for those who have already served as either president, vice president, premier or DPP chairman to run in the Jan. 15 chairmanship race.
DEATH THREAT: A MAC official said that it has urged Beijing to avoid creating barriers that would impede exchanges across the Strait, but it continues to do so People should avoid unnecessary travel to China after Beijing issued 22 guidelines allowing its courts to try in absentia and sentence to death “Taiwan independence separatists,” the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday as it raised its travel alert for China, including Hong Kong and Macau, to “orange.” The guidelines published last week “severely threaten the personal safety of Taiwanese traveling to China, Hong Kong and Macau,” MAC Deputy Minister and spokesman Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) told a news conference in Taipei. “Following a comprehensive assessment, the government considers it necessary to elevate the travel alert to orange from yellow,” Liang said. Beijing has
Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) yesterday said that the Chinese Communist Party was planning and implementing “major” reforms, ahead of a political conclave that is expected to put economic recovery high on the agenda. Chinese policymakers have struggled to reignite growth since late 2022, when restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic were lifted. The world’s second-largest economy is beset by a debt crisis in the property sector, persistently low consumption and high unemployment among young people. Policymakers “are planning and implementing major measures to further deepen reform in a comprehensive manner,” Xi said in a speech at the Great Hall
CIVIL DEFENSE: More reservists in alternative service would help establish a sound civil defense system for use in wartime and during natural disasters, Kuma Academy’s CEO said While a total of 120,000 reservists are expected to be called up for alternative reserve drills this year, compared with the 6,505 drilled last year, the number has been revised to 58,000 due to a postponed training date, Deputy Minster of the Interior Ma Shih-yuan (馬士元) said. In principle, the ministry still aims to call up 120,000 reservists for alternative reserve drills next year, he said, but the actual number would not be decided later until after this year’s evaluation. The increase follows a Legislative Yuan request that the Ministry of the Interior address low recruitment rates, which it made while reviewing
SOLUTIONS NEEDED: Taiwan must attract about 400,000 to 500,000 skilled foreign workers due to population decline, the minister of economic affairs said in Washington President William Lai’s (賴清德) administration is considering a plan to import labor to deal with an impending shortage of engineers and other highly skilled workers, Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) said in Washington on Tuesday. Kuo was leading a delegation attending the SelectUSA Investment Summit. Taiwan must attract about 400,000 to 500,000 skilled foreign workers for high-end manufacturing jobs by 2040, he said. Ministry of Economic Affairs officials are still calculating the precise number of workers that are needed, as it works on loosening immigration restrictions and creating incentives, Kuo said. Taiwanese firms operating factories in the US and other countries would