A key staff member in KMT presidential candidate Lien Chan's (
However, speech communication experts said the case was symptomatic of the last stage of a campaign filled with cursing and obscene language.
Lin Hsiang-nung (
"My language might be regarded as offensive to some, but this is not the case," Lin said at a press conference yesterday.
"In a cordial atmosphere, I blurted out an improper word inadvertently," said Lin, suggesting the "slang" he used was commonplace among the discussions he had with friends during post-quake reconstruction work.
Instead of calming many of those who had taken offense at the remark, Lin's apology was used by opposing candidates' camps to fuel even more controversy.
DPP women legislators Yeh Yi-jin (
As voting day approaches, sharp skirmishes between the candidates' camps have been intensified by the increasingly common use of obscene remarks.
Independent candidate James Soong (
Lien once teased DPP candidate Chen Shui-bian (
In addition, certain anti-James Soong (
Speech communication experts said that using such obscenities to attack opponents during campaign rallies might benefit those hurling the insults, but it is far from beneficial to the public reading about such activities later in newspapers.
"Political figures who use such language at rallies would probably prefer to take back those insults should they ever try some strategic thinking," said Yu Tzu-shiang (游梓翔), an associate professor at Shih Hsin University's department of speech communication.
"The insulting actions relayed by television can create a lasting negative impression on the viewing public," Yu said, adding that the audience might not "empathize" with those at the scene of such events, because second-hand reports often simplify the real situation.
Yu said that some candidates had proved themselves poor role models by acting improperly and bandying about obscenities at rallies.
"Bad language, like calling someone `wolf-hearted and dog-lunged' (
Even making jokes about other candidates' personalities can be damaging, he said.
"Children will be confused by such practices. Parents and schoolteachers would never tolerate such behavior," Yu said, referring to the fact that would-be leaders of Taiwan should at least try to be thinking about being role models for society.
It is a worrying trend, Yu said, as the use of cursing and sexual innuendo in the current campaign is a sure sign that social values in Taiwan are deteriorating.
The Thai government on Friday announced that Taiwanese would be allowed to stay in the country for up to 60 days per entry, under the Southeast Asian country’s visa-free program starting from today. Taiwan is among 93 countries included in the Thai visa-waiver program, which has been expanded from 57 countries, with the visa-exempt entry extended from 30 to 60 days. After taking office last year, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has vowed to grant more visa waivers to foreign travelers as part of efforts to stimulate tourism. The expanded visa-waiver program was on Friday signed by Thai Minister of the Interior Anutin
BAIL APPEALS: The former vice premier was ordered to be held incommunicado despite twice being granted bail and paying a total of NT$12 million in bond The Taoyuan District Court yesterday ordered the detention of former vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), who is being investigated for alleged corruption while serving as Taoyuan mayor from December 2014 to December 2022, and that he be held incommunicado. The court made the ruling during a bail hearing after prosecutors appealed its bail ruling twice. Cheng on Saturday was released after posting bail of NT$5 million (US$153,818). However, after prosecutors lodged an appeal, the High Court on Monday revoked the original ruling and ordered the Taoyuan District Court to hold another bail hearing. On Tuesday, the district court granted bail to Cheng a second
PEACE AND SECURITY: China’s military ambitions present ‘the greatest strategic challenge to Japan and the world, Japan’s annual defense white paper said yesterday Japan yesterday warned that China risked escalating tensions with Taiwan with an increase in military exercises that appeared aimed in part at readying Beijing’s forces for a possible invasion. Japan’s annual assessment of security threats, including those posed by China, North Korea and Russia, comes as Taiwan closely monitors Chinese People’s Liberation Army air and sea exercises, including one with the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean. The drills are the latest in a series including maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait last year that a senior US general said would be key to any invasion. “Because of that increase in military activity,
HAN KUANG: The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers said The armed forces would for the first time test new rules of engagement (ROE) at this month’s annual Han Kuang exercises, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said yesterday. The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games, and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers told a news conference in Taipei. ROE cards would be issued to select combat troops to test their ability to function without tight control, they said. The most recent edition of the rules was published last year, they said. One of the cards’ two templates identifies enemy targets that soldiers