The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidates traversed the nation yesterday in last-minute attempts to boost support ahead of today's presidential election.
In emotional pleas to supporters ahead of today's poll, the DPP's Frank Hsieh (
Speaking at his campaign headquarters in Taipei earlier yesterday, Hsieh asked voters to exercise caution when they cast their ballots, saying Taiwan's future relied on an awakening of its people.
"[Today's] election is not just an election but an important decision of the people," he said. "Your vote is not to add flowers to embroidery but to offer fuel in snowy weather."
Leading his campaign team in a bow to the public, Hsieh said if elected, he would rectify the shortcomings of the current DPP administration.
"I will do better and I will not let you down," he said.
Hsieh promised, if elected, to restore political stability in a speedy manner and end political infighting. He also pledged to mend the fractures caused during the election process, implement his economic policy to increase individual incomes, lower unemployment, create a safe environment for children and women and establish social justice.
"We are humble before the people," he said. "We are asking you to cast the sacred ballot in your hand for the hope of Taiwan and its future."
In related news, Hsieh yesterday thanked former Academia Sinica president and Nobel laureate Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲) for his support and promised to be more humble towards the opposition and the people.
"With its three-quarters majority, the KMT can easily drive me out of office," he said. "I will follow the Constitution and cannot afford to make a mistake."
He promised, if elected, to implement "reconciliation and co-existence," which he said has been his political belief since he entered politics.
"There is no one who I cannot cooperate or reconcile with," Hsieh said. "I do it for the sake of the people."
To avoid political confrontation, Hsieh said he would respect the majority party in the legislature and negotiate with the KMT on the appointment of the premier.
While he would set the policy for cross-strait relations, foreign affairs and national defense, Hsieh said he would let the premier take care of the rest.
While he is in favor of opening up further to China, he said a Taiwan-centered consciousness and national interests must be upheld.
He also pledged to make an all-out effort to ease political tensions, saying with the end of the election, the battle between those who support President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and those who support his KMT rival Ma would come to an end.
Saying he was impressed by Hsieh's "reconciliation and co-existence" concept, Lee said that he was steadfast in his support for Hsieh this time, unlike his last-minute endorsement of Chen in the 2000 presidential election.
Lee said he would like to see Hsieh bring change to the country, meet the people's expectations and establish a government that is free of corruption.
In related news, former DPP chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄) yesterday endorsed the DPP ticket, saying it would only be conducive to the country's democratic development if there were two political forces checking each other's power.
He said although he was disappointed at the performance of the DPP administration over the past eight years, the KMT was even worse.
Beijing's bloody crackdown on Tibet should serve as a sharp warning for the China-friendly KMT, he said, adding that they might want to reconsider their "one China market."
Lin's daughter, Lin Huan-chin (
She also criticized the KMT for lying about its support for the referendum seeking UN membership. She urged the public to learn a lesson from China's crackdown in Tibet and decide whether they want to vote for a party that will protect the country or one that will lean toward a giant neighbor that constantly threatens the nation.
Ma yesterday condemned the DPP for causing eight years of misery and pledged to be a "public president" and put an end to long-term conflicts between political parties if elected today.
"The DPP caused the harm, and it is not the victim. The miserable situation in Taiwan today is caused by the DPP, and the party has no right to ask for the people's sympathy," Ma said yesterday while canvassing support in Taipei County.
On the final day before the election, Ma called on the public to change the future of Taiwan by casting their ballots.
"I urge everyone to cast their ballots because their votes will change the future of Taiwan," Ma told a press conference at his Taipei campaign office.
"What we want to see is a wealthy Taiwan, not a poor country. We want a Taiwan that opens its door to the world, not a country that locks itself away ... And we want to see light, not dark," he said.
When asked about the DPP's accusations of KMT vote-buying, Ma said that the party and his camp did not buy votes.
Ma spent the final day of the campaign in Taipei County during the day, before heading to Taichung and Kaohsiung for election eve parties.
He canceled campaign events planned for the afternoon claiming to be preparing campaign speeches yesterday evening, but later resumed activities in Sanchung (三重) and shrugged off rumors that the events were canceled because of safety concerns.
Ma later joined running mate Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) at Kaohsiung Dream Mall plaza at the election eve party, promising to upgrade Kaohsiung's port by implementing cross-strait direct links if elected.
Ma also promised to continue the construction of MRT and railway systems in Kaohsiung, while vowing to revive the area's economy by attracting more high-tech companies.
Seeking to solicit support in one of the pan-green camp's strongholds, Ma once again assured supporters that he would not allow Chinese laborers and agricultural products into Taiwan.
"I, Ma Ying-jeou will not sell Taiwan out. I will make Taiwan's interest the priority," he said.
About 100,000 pan-blue supporters from Kaohsiung, Chiayi and Tainan gathered at the plaza last night, waving campaign flags and cheering for Ma.
He then rushed to Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium to join his wife Chow Mei-ching (
In Taipei, KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) and former KMT chairman Lien Chan (連戰) led hundreds of pan-blue supporters gathered at Ketagalan Boulevard.
KMT officials joined each other via live broadcasts and arranged candles in the shape of Taiwan to represent the KMT's determination to bring Taiwan a better future.
Earlier yesterday Wu accused the DPP of adopting dirty tricks at the last minute before the election, pledging to stay at KMT headquarters all day to monitor the situation.
Ma's two daughters, Lesley Ma (馬唯中) and Kelly Ma (馬元中), are arriving from the US this morning to cast their vote.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
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SEA SEARCH: Nine crew members of a cargo ship had taken to the water after the vessel sunk off the southern coast, with a rescue effort under way, officials said The strongest typhoon to hit Taiwan in eight years yesterday killed three people and flooded parts of the nation’s second-biggest city, while rescuers were searching for nine sailors after their cargo ship sank in the storm. Typhoon Gaemi transformed streets in Kaohsiung into rivers, with some households flooded. Offices and schools were closed for the second consecutive day, with thousands of people evacuated. Three people died and 380 were injured due to strong winds and torrential rainfall brought by Typhoon Gaemi, the Central Emergency Response Center said. The typhoon made landfall in Yilan County’s Nanao Township (南澳) at midnight yesterday and departed Taiwan