Candidates for Taipei County commissioner, a post regarded as a key election prize, will walk down different paths now that the election is over.
The DPP's Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), who won the position, yesterday vowed to continue his efforts in the county, while his rival, the New Party's Wang Chien-shien (王建火宣), announced his retirement from politics.
Su, also incumbent Taipei County Commissioner, yesterday expressed his appreciation to voters by visiting DPP campaign branches in 12 townships to shake hands with supporters.
"I try to tell my supporters in person that I will carry through on all [my promised] policies in the county," Su said.
Su's achievements in his past four years in power made him a legend in Saturday's election. Su has become the only DPP local chief in northern Taiwan, successfully holding onto DPP territory.
Su gained more than 870,000 votes, breaking the record for local elections in Taipei County. Four years ago, Su received support from about 570,000 residents.
Political watchers said that one of Su's successful strategies was his distancing himself from the DPP-dominated central government.
He stressed during his campaign that he will continue to carry out all policies over what will be his eight years in power.
Meanwhile, Wang of the New Party announced his retirement from political circles yesterday.
Although the "pan-blue" camp tried to work together by persuading candidates with the KMT and PFP to withdraw from the race, Wang, a former finance minister in the early 1990s, gained only a little over 820,000 votes on Saturday.
"I've done my best. I will not take part in any public elections in the future," Wang said, implying his disappointment over the political situation.
In particular, Wang said, he felt so sorry about the results of the legislative election because many of what he thinks are excellent New Party candidates failed to secure voter support. The New Party managed to win only one legislative seat.
Wang went to church with his wife yesterday morning and sang in the chorus. Wang expressed his appreciation to voters and said he would go back to university to teach, continue to assist charities and spend time with his family.
Political observers said that it remains uncertain whether Wang's retirement will accelerate the New Party's decay. Wang is one of six founders of the party, established in 1993.
But Wang, one of the party's most influential figures, has his own opinions about his retirement.
"It's time for senior New Party pioneers to take a rest. A new generation should now fight for the support of Taiwanese people," Wang said.
New Party Convener Hsieh Chi-ta (謝啟大) said yesterday that she would shoulder the blame for the party's failure in the elections by quitting her position on Dec. 8, when a committee meeting will be held.
"We still have 3 percent of voters' support. The New Party will struggle to the very end and will never be merged with other political parties," Hsieh said.
SECURITY: The purpose for giving Hong Kong and Macau residents more lenient paths to permanent residency no longer applies due to China’s policies, a source said The government is considering removing an optional path to citizenship for residents from Hong Kong and Macau, and lengthening the terms for permanent residence eligibility, a source said yesterday. In a bid to prevent the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from infiltrating Taiwan through immigration from Hong Kong and Macau, the government could amend immigration laws for residents of the territories who currently receive preferential treatment, an official familiar with the matter speaking on condition of anonymity said. The move was part of “national security-related legislative reform,” they added. Under the amendments, arrivals from the Chinese territories would have to reside in Taiwan for
CRITICAL MOVE: TSMC’s plan to invest another US$100 billion in US chipmaking would boost Taiwan’s competitive edge in the global market, the premier said The government would ensure that the most advanced chipmaking technology stays in Taiwan while assisting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) in investing overseas, the Presidential Office said yesterday. The statement follows a joint announcement by the world’s largest contract chipmaker and US President Donald Trump on Monday that TSMC would invest an additional US$100 billion over the next four years to expand its semiconductor manufacturing operations in the US, which would include construction of three new chip fabrication plants, two advanced packaging facilities, and a research and development center. The government knew about the deal in advance and would assist, Presidential
‘DANGEROUS GAME’: Legislative Yuan budget cuts have already become a point of discussion for Democrats and Republicans in Washington, Elbridge Colby said Taiwan’s fall to China “would be a disaster for American interests” and Taipei must raise defense spending to deter Beijing, US President Donald Trump’s pick to lead Pentagon policy, Elbridge Colby, said on Tuesday during his US Senate confirmation hearing. The nominee for US undersecretary of defense for policy told the Armed Services Committee that Washington needs to motivate Taiwan to avoid a conflict with China and that he is “profoundly disturbed” about its perceived reluctance to raise defense spending closer to 10 percent of GDP. Colby, a China hawk who also served in the Pentagon in Trump’s first team,
The arrival of a cold front tomorrow could plunge temperatures into the mid-teens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Temperatures yesterday rose to 28°C to 30°C in northern and eastern Taiwan, and 32°C to 33°C in central and southern Taiwan, CWA data showed. Similar but mostly cloudy weather is expected today, the CWA said. However, the arrival of a cold air mass tomorrow would cause a rapid drop in temperatures to 15°C cooler than the previous day’s highs. The cold front, which is expected to last through the weekend, would bring steady rainfall tomorrow, along with multiple waves of showers
RSS