Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Yu Shyi-kun surprised no one yesterday when he announced his intention to run in the party primary for next year's presidential election.
Yu is the second of the DPP's four big guns to announce a presidential bid. Former premier Frank Hsieh (
Registration for the DPP primary will be open from March 5 to March 9. Party members will vote on presidential and legislative hopefuls on May 6, after which public opinion polls will be held. The party will announce its final candidates for the two elections on May 30.
Saying that he is the one who is "most capable of leading Taiwan forward," Yu made the announcement at a temple in his Ilan County hometown yesterday morning.
Yu said next year is important because it will be the time when the Taiwanese people have to decide whether to move forward or go backward, as the country faces a number of challenges, including globalization and China's economic rise.
At this important juncture, Yu said that the country needs a leader who "says what he means, is consistent and has a sense of propriety."
"Such a person has to stick to principles because they give the person faith and power," he said.
The next president has to insist on reform, know how to tackle the cross-strait impasse and react to internal and external crises with creative thinking, he said.
"I believe I am that person," he said.
The DPP boss said he would not rush to resolve the cross-strait issue or change his position, nor would he vacillate on issues. He described himself as the "one who upholds Taiwan's values."
When asked whether he would resign his party post to enter the primary, Yu said that although the party's election rules did not require him to do so, he would nonetheless ask for leave of absence after he begins campaigning.
He said he also needed time to think about a running mate.
Yu's announcement came after President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said on Wednesday that he had been disappointed that Yu had not yet announced his intention to run in the primary.
Yu returned to Taipei yesterday afternoon to visit former senior presidential adviser Wu Li-pei (吳澧培) and seek his support. Wu encouraged Yu to offer a clear discourse on important issues, particularly "Taiwan consciousness" and how to materialize it.
Other DPP figures seen as possible presidential aspirants were low key yesterday when asked about Yu's announcement.
Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) refused to comment, saying that she did not want to talk about the election during the Lunar New Year holiday.
She spent yesterday morning with the president, visiting temples in Keelung and paying respect to the late Keelung Mayor Hsu Tsai-li (許財利), who died last Wednesday of complications from chronic heart disease.
Meanwhile, Hsieh said that he was not surprised by Yu's decision and that it was a good thing to see many contenders in the primary.
"It shows the party has many great talents," Hsieh said. "I believe when there is competition, there is improvement."
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
Typhoon Usagi yesterday had weakened into a tropical storm, but a land warning issued by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) was still in effect in four areas in southern Taiwan. As of 5pm yesterday, Tropical Storm Usagi was over waters 120km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), the southernmost tip of Taiwan proper, and was moving north at 9kph, CWA data showed. The storm was expected to veer northeast later yesterday. It had maximum sustained winds of 101kph, with gusts of up to 126kph, the data showed. The CWA urged residents of Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, Taitung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春) to remain alert to
ONE LAST TALK: While Xi said that Taiwan was a ‘red line,’ Biden, in what is likely his last meeting with Xi as president, called for an end to China’s military activity around Taiwan China’s military intimidation and economic coercion against Taiwan are the main causes of tensions that are destabilizing peace in the Taiwan Strait, Taipei said yesterday while thanking US President Joe Biden for expressing Washington’s firm stance of maintaining peace and stability in the region. Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) met on Saturday for their third meeting and their first talks in seven months on the sidelines of the APEC forum in Lima, Peru. It was likely Biden’s last meeting as president with Xi. During their conversation, Biden reiterated the US’ opposition to any unilateral change to the “status quo” from either
Taiwan would participate in the 2026 APEC summit to be hosted by China after Beijing promised it would ensure the personal safety of attendees, Taiwanese national security sources said yesterday. The APEC Leaders’ Machu Picchu Declaration announced yesterday said that China would host the APEC summit in 2026. Beijing proposed hosting the summit shortly before this year’s gathering began on Friday, a national security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Many APEC members expressed concerns about China hosting the event and said that prior communication over the decision was insufficient, the official said. Taiwan brought up concerns about legal “guidelines” China announced in
RSS