John Chang (
His alleged affair with a former TV actress Wang Hsiao-chan (王筱蟬) is bound to dog Chang on the campaign trail, as Wang has long made clear her intention to seek a legislative seat as an independent from the same district.
Flanked by his wife Huang Mei-lun (黃美倫) and physically challenged celebrities, Chang showed up at the KMT's Taipei chapter to register his candidacy at 10am. Scores of supporters stood outside the venue chanting, "Chang, go, go, go."
"I will put in a good fight to win the opportunity to serve the country and the people," Chang said.
In December 1999, Chang stepped down as presidential secretary-general after admitting to an extramarital affair. Regretting the scandal as "the biggest mistake of my life," Chang has since shunned the limelight.
Chang said the respite provided him with an opportunity to get in touch with the grassroots and understand their needs.
Chang, the illegitimate son of the late president Chiang Ching-kuo (
As of yesterday evening, a total of 12 KMT members have applied to place their name on the primary ballot. The largest opposition party is expected to nominate three or four candidates to vie for legislative seats in the southern district of the capital city.
Chang said he believed his political credentials would distinguish him from rivals inside and outside the party. He was a career diplomat and served as Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1996 and 1997 before becoming vice premier and later KMT secretary-general. If elected, Chang said he is will focus on promoting cross-strait ties as well as the welfare of the handicapped.
Wang, his alleged mistress, has opened her campaign headquarters in the same district where Chang is planning his political comeback.
In an interview with a local cable TV station, Wang said a wealthy businessman has promised to finance her venture.
She has flatly denied any romantic involvement with Chang and has pressed a libel suit against a Chinese language newspaper for naming her in the sex scandal.
‘CROWN JEWEL’: Washington ‘can delay and deter’ Chinese President Xi Jinping’s plans for Taiwan, but it is ‘a very delicate situation there,’ the secretary of state said US President Donald Trump is opposed to any change to Taiwan’s “status quo” by force or extortion and would maintain that policy, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Hugh Hewitt Show host on Wednesday. The US’ policy is to maintain Taiwan’s “status quo” and to oppose any changes in the situation by force or extortion, Rubio said. Hewitt asked Rubio about the significance of Trump earlier this month speaking with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電) chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) at the White House, a meeting that Hewitt described as a “big deal.” Asked whether the meeting was an indication of the
‘RELATIVELY STRONG LANGUAGE’: An expert said the state department has not softened its language on China and was ‘probably a little more Taiwan supportive’ China’s latest drills near Taiwan on Monday were “brazen and irresponsible threats,” a US Department of State spokesperson said on Tuesday, while reiterating Washington’s decades-long support of Taipei. “China cannot credibly claim to be a ‘force for stability in a turbulent world’ while issuing brazen and irresponsible threats toward Taiwan,” the unnamed spokesperson said in an e-mailed response to media queries. Washington’s enduring commitment to Taiwan will continue as it has for 45 years and the US “will continue to support Taiwan in the face of China’s military, economic, informational and diplomatic pressure campaign,” the e-mail said. “Alongside our international partners, we firmly
PERMIT REVOKED: The influencer at a news conference said the National Immigration Agency was infringing on human rights and persecuting Chinese spouses Chinese influencer “Yaya in Taiwan” (亞亞在台灣) yesterday evening voluntarily left Taiwan, despite saying yesterday morning that she had “no intention” of leaving after her residence permit was revoked over her comments on Taiwan being “unified” with China by military force. The Ministry of the Interior yesterday had said that it could forcibly deport the influencer at midnight, but was considering taking a more flexible approach and beginning procedures this morning. The influencer, whose given name is Liu Zhenya (劉振亞), departed on a 8:45pm flight from Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport) to Fuzhou, China. Liu held a news conference at the airport at 7pm,
KAOHSIUNG CEREMONY: The contract chipmaker is planning to build 5 fabs in the southern city to gradually expand its 2-nanometer chip capacity Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world’s biggest contract chipmaker, yesterday confirmed that it plans to hold a ceremony on March 31 to unveil a capacity expansion plan for its most advanced 2-nanometer chips in Kaohsiung, demonstrating its commitment to further investment at home. The ceremony is to be hosted by TSMC cochief operating officer Y.P. Chyn (秦永沛). It did not disclose whether Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and high-ranking government officials would attend the ceremony. More details are to be released next week, it said. The chipmaker’s latest move came after its announcement earlier this month of an additional US$100 billion
RSS