Fearing a low turnout, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday urged the public to come out and vote in Saturday's legislative elections.
President Chen Shui-bian (
However, he would not say whether he would step down as chairman if the DPP performed badly in the elections.
Meanwhile, former president Lee Teng-hui (
Chen chaired a meeting of senior party members to discuss the elections and campaign strategy at DPP headquarters yesterday morning.
Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), DPP election campaign chief Yu Shyi-kun, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄), DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and Hsieh's running mate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) attended the meeting.
Chen said afterwards there was no secret to winning an election, but solidarity, hard work and perseverance were all very important.
Chen said that while he realized securing 50 seats was "mission impossible," the DPP had repeatedly proven it could turn things around.
If the KMT won a majority in the legislature, Chen said, Taiwan would only have one option for its future: unification with China.
KMT domination of the legislature, Chen said, would mean the "one country on either side of the Taiwan Strait" policy advocated by the DPP would be consigned to history and the country would make a complete U-turn.
"Unification will no longer be a remote notion or a ridiculous ideology but will become the policy goal of the KMT government," he said. "If this comes to pass, there will be little difference between Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao."
Chen said although speculation was mounting that the DPP would win between 35 to 38 seats and the KMT would secure 75, nobody knew what would really happen.
If the worst happened, Chen said, it would be a serious defeat for the DPP and for Taiwan, democracy and justice.
Chen lambasted the KMT for urging the public to boycott the two referendums that are to be held concurrently with the elections, saying this was tantamount to rejecting democracy.
The referendum initiated by the DPP represented the nation's last chance to reclaim the assets stolen by the KMT, he said.
Hsieh said supporters were anxious about the DPP's election chances and worried that the KMT would win a legislative majority.
"It will be a disaster for the country if the KMT controls the government agencies, judiciary and the legislature," he said. "We will not give up any ballot. We will spare no effort until the very end."
Meanwhile, the TSU yesterday introduced promotional videos featuring Lee urging voters to cast their second ballot for the TSU. The videos were broadcast on TV beginning yesterday evening.
In the videos, Lee criticized the DPP for dashing the hopes of the people and offering no direction for the country's future. Lee said many people had asked him which presidential candidate he would endorse.
"I want you to ask yourself who you are," he said. "So many people ask others who they support, but seldom do they ask themselves who they are. Taiwanese must have a Taiwan-centered consciousness. They must be their own master, walk their own path and take care of the disadvantaged, workers, farmers and students."
Lee said voters had the opportunity to say "no" to the bigger parties in Saturday's elections.
Meanwhile, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (
Wu, unveiling the party's latest commercial at a media conference yesterday morning, urged voters to cast their ballots for the KMT.
"I have been doing some thinking on why we always lose battles we should not have lost. If [the KMT] had been united [in 2004], Chen Shui-bian would not have had a chance," Wu said.
"We really have to ask everyone for emergency help because this election is unfair and partial. Every single ballot is very important," he said. "If you don't vote, A-bian [the president] will laugh behind our backs," Wu said.
He said the KMT would not forget the "painful experience of the 319 shooting incident" ahead of the presidential election in 2004. Nor would it forget the pain after KMT Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Huang Chun-ying's (黃俊英) lead was reversed overnight during the mayoral election in December 2006, he said.
"I consider myself a Buddhist, but for the people and Taiwan, I will go all out. Although I am a gentle person, I will be very tough for the next five days," Wu said.
When approached for comment while campaigning in Taoyuan, KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College