Energized by the turnout for its nation-wide rally on Saturday, members of the pan-blue camp expressed optimism yesterday over the alliance's chances in the presidential election.
"Many of the marchers came voluntarily to take part in the marches and rallies. There is, therefore, a high probability these people will turn out to vote [for the alliance,]" said PFP Legislator Pang Chien-kuo (龐建國), who doubles as the KMT-PFP alliance's spokesman.
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
On Saturday, the blue camp staged a series of marches across the nation protesting against President Chen Shui-bian (
The events climaxed when the alliance's presidential candidate, KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
Shortly before that, Lien's running mate, PFP Chairman James Soong (
"Judging by the reaction of former president Lee Teng-hui (
Pang was referring to remarks made by Lee who, during the DPP's campaign rally in Kaohsiung on Saturday night, criticized Lien's and Soong's kissing the ground gesture as insincere.
"If the effect [of the kissing gestures] was not great, Lee would have taken it lightly instead of solemnly criticizing it during the campaign rally," Pang said.
In response to criticism from the green camp that his kissing gesture was only for show, Lien said that Chen "has no style"
"My problem today is that my opponent has no style," he said.
More than a million people participated in the blue camp's marches on Saturday.
PFP Legislator Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄) said he believed these people will vote for Lien and Soong and hand them victory on Saturday.
"The overwhelming support shown by people in the 313 Rally not only boosts the candidacy of the Lien-Soong ticket but has also consolidated the pan-blue camp's basic voting base," Liu said.
"The success of the event has a positive influence on the Lien-Soong ticket's electoral outlook as it provides an impetus for undecided voters who have in the past shied away from showing sides in public to come out and support Lien and Soong," Liu said.
KMT Vice Chairman Wu Po-hsiung (
WANG RELEASED: A police investigation showed that an organized crime group allegedly taught their clients how to pretend to be sick during medical exams Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) and 11 others were released on bail yesterday, after being questioned for allegedly dodging compulsory military service or forging documents to help others avoid serving. Wang, 33, was catapulted into stardom for his role in the coming-of-age film Our Times (我的少女時代). Lately, he has been focusing on developing his entertainment career in China. The New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office last month began investigating an organized crime group that is allegedly helping men dodge compulsory military service using falsified documents. Police in New Taipei City Yonghe Precinct at the end of last month arrested the main suspect,
A cat named Mikan (蜜柑) has brought in revenue of more than NT$10 million (US$305,390) for the Kaohsiung MRT last year. Mikan, born on April 4, 2020, was a stray cat before being adopted by personnel of Kaohsiung MRT’s Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Station. Mikan was named after a Japanese term for mandarin orange due to his color and because he looks like an orange when curled up. He was named “station master” of Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Station in September 2020, and has since become famous. With Kaohsiung MRT’s branding, along with the release of a set of cultural and creative products, station master Mikan
LITTORAL REGIMENTS: The US Marine Corps is transitioning to an ‘island hopping’ strategy to counterattack Beijing’s area denial strategy The US Marine Corps (USMC) has introduced new anti-drone systems to bolster air defense in the Pacific island chain amid growing Chinese military influence in the region, The Telegraph reported on Sunday. The new Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) Mk 1 is being developed to counter “the growing menace of unmanned aerial systems,” it cited the Marine Corps as saying. China has constructed a powerful defense mechanism in the Pacific Ocean west of the first island chain by deploying weapons such as rockets, submarines and anti-ship missiles — which is part of its anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategy against adversaries — the
Eleven people, including actor Darren Wang (王大陸), were taken into custody today for questioning regarding the evasion of compulsory military service and document forgery, the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said. Eight of the people, including Wang, are suspected of evading military service, while three are suspected of forging medical documents to assist them, the report said. They are all being questioned by police and would later be transferred to the prosecutors’ office for further investigation. Three men surnamed Lee (李), Chang (張) and Lin (林) are suspected of improperly assisting conscripts in changing their military classification from “stand-by
RSS