Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) yesterday said the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Taipei mayor candidate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) had failed to present any solid policies in his press conference yesterday, urging his opponent to refrain from trying to fool Taipei residents with empty slogans.
“What Su offered today is a slogan. He did not give any policies, thoughts or promises to take any action. Where is the beef?” Hau said after a weekly meeting at the Taipei City Hall.
Responding to his opponent’s campaign event even before reporters raised questions, Hau criticized Su for not making known his position on the issue of an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) and further urging him to present his policies on the development of Songshan Airport.
“An ECFA is not a political issue, but a municipal issue because it will affect local businesses and labors ... Mr Su should offer his vision on the development of Taipei City,” he said.
Hau, seeking re-election in November’s Taipei mayoral election representing the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), has suffered from low support in many polls since taking office.
Stepping up his own campaign, Hau touted his municipal projects yesterday while promoting direct flights from Songshan Airport to Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport starting next Monday.
The Taipei City Government will further push for direct flights between Songshan Airport and Japan’s Haneda Airport and Gimpo Airport in South Korea by the end of the year.
“I expect Su to present his policies on the development of Songshan Airport, rather than trying to hoodwink Taipei residents with empty slogans,” he added.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,