The Presidential Office expressed concern yesterday over a story run by the Associated Press (AP) that described Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) as "the scum of the nation."
With the headline "Taiwan's `scum of the nation' runs for president," the story said Lu was an outspoken vice president that "China has called `insane' and the `scum of the nation.'"
The headline was later changed to a more moderate tone that read "Lu seeks to be first Taiwan woman president" after the Presidential Office expressed concern.
Lu said last night that she would send a letter of protest to CNN and demand an apology or an interview in order to safeguard the country's dignity.
Presidential Office spokesman David Lee (
Lee said the office would contact CNN to gain a clearer understanding of the situation.
Lu yesterday formally announced her bid for next year's presidential election, becoming the first Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate to officially register for the party's primary.
Three other DPP politicians have also announced their intentions to run in the primary are expected to register tomorrow: Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun and former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷).
Lu made the announcement at the Grand Hotel, the Taipei landmark where the DPP was founded.
Saying she needed a "higher position to accomplish the historic mission left off by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁)," Lu vowed to complete the normalization and globalization of the nation if elected.
Because of the nation's unique political situation, Lu said someone with a "correct sense of history" and a "complete sense of what is going on" was needed to lead the country.
Lu remained evasive, however, about whether she would continue Chen's "four noes and one without" pledge if elected.
On cross-strait relations, Lu said Taiwan and China had to end the resentment left by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Chinese Communist Party.
"Taiwan and China are distant relatives and close neighbors. There should not be any hatred or war between the two countries," she said.
Lu proposed adopting a "three Cs" principle to develop "constructive engagement" with China. The "three Cs" refer to promoting coexistence, cooperation and mutual prosperity.
Commenting on the DPP's selection process, Lu said that polls were important, but what was more important was to select the candidate who could win the election.
After candidates publicly debated policy, Lu said she believed Chen would take into account opinion polls during the negotiation process between contenders.
If the negotiation failed to bear fruit, the primary would be held, she said.
Lu said she would not seek re-election as vice president and would drop out of the race if she did not place first in the primary.
DPP members will vote on presidential and legislative candidates on May 6. The party will then conduct public opinion polls. The party will announce its candidates for the two elections on May 30.
Lu said she would accept the results of the negotiations and "would feel OK" if she were told to withdraw from the race after the selection process.
Although she has not yet chosen a running mate, Lu said the person had to be a strength in the primary and the best possible assistant once elected.
Hsieh said yesterday he supported Lu's decision to run.
"The more people, the better. We can all improve through competition. But I cannot say I hope she will be elected because this is against my desires," he said.
Additional reporting by Flora Wang
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
RESPONSE: The government would investigate incidents of Taiwanese entertainers in China promoting CCP propaganda online in contravention of the law, the source said Taiwanese entertainers living in China who are found to have contravened cross-strait regulations or collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be subject to fines, a source said on Sunday. Several Taiwanese entertainers have posted on the social media platform Sina Weibo saying that Taiwan “must be returned” to China, and sharing news articles from Chinese state media. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has asked the Ministry of Culture to investigate whether the entertainers had contravened any laws, and asked for them to be questioned upon their return to Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said. To curb repeated
Myanmar has turned down an offer of assistance from Taiwanese search-and-rescue teams after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the nation on Friday last week, saying other international aid is sufficient, the National Fire Agency said yesterday. More than 1,700 have been killed and 3,400 injured in the quake that struck near the central Myanmar city of Mandalay early on Friday afternoon, followed minutes later by a magnitude 6.7 aftershock. Worldwide, 13 international search-and-rescue teams have been deployed, with another 13 teams mobilizing, the agency said. Taiwan’s search-and-rescue teams were on standby, but have since been told to stand down, as