Hualien Mayor Tien Chih-hsuan (田智宣), who was the only Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) member to have been elected as a municipal official in Hualien and was considered a pioneer for the party in an area that is overwhelmingly pro-Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), died yesterday at the age of 56.
Tien was diagnosed with lung cancer before the Jan. 16 elections.
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), accompanied by DPP Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), arrived at Tien’s residence late yesterday afternoon to pay her respects, after inspecting two air force bases in Hualien County.
Photo: Hua Meng-ching, Taipei Times
“Tien was a person who wholeheartedly focused on his work, and would even sacrifice his life for it,” Tsai said. “There is a lot of work he was yet to complete. We will help him to finish what he could not.”
Tsai had already been scheduled to visit Tien yesterday while she was in Hualien.
Tien’s wife, Chang Mei-hui (張美慧), said she is happy she married Tien and became part of his family.
“I believe we will meet again. I will shed my tears in a place where no one is around,” she said.
Hsiao, the first DPP legislator elected in Hualien County since 1992, lamented Tien’s passing on Facebook.
“This has been a disturbing night, the thing that would sadden me the has happened. All these years you have been my most important partner and supporter in Hualien, and you have been someone to rely on for leading Hualien forward,” Hsiao wrote. “My heart ached to see your pain and suffering, but at the end, we still have to say goodbye, so that you may be freed from the sickness. Your efforts have left beautiful marks for Hualien.”
Tien started his political career in a village warden’s office. Over the past 20 years he was elected a Hualien County councilor, Jian Township (吉安) mayor, and Hualien mayor, without loosing an election, creating a legacy in Hualien, where pan-blue politicians enjoy overwhelming support.
Civil society groups yesterday protested outside the Legislative Yuan, decrying Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) efforts to pass three major bills that they said would seriously harm Taiwan’s democracy, and called to oust KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁). It was the second night of the three-day “Bluebird wintertime action” protests in Taipei, with organizers announcing that 8,000 people attended. Organized by Taiwan Citizen Front, the Economic Democracy Union (EDU) and a coalition of civil groups, about 6,000 people began a demonstration in front of KMT party headquarters in Taipei on Wednesday, organizers said. For the third day, the organizers asked people to assemble
Taipei is participating in Osaka’s Festival of Lights this year, with a 3m-tall bubble tea light installation symbolizing Taiwan’s bubble tea culture. The installation is designed as a bubble tea cup and features illustrations of Taipei’s iconic landmarks, such as Taipei 101, the Red House and North Gate, as well as soup dumplings and the matchmaking deity the Old Man Under the Moon (月下老人), affectionately known as Yue Lao (月老). Taipei and Osaka have collaborated closely on tourism and culture since Taipei first participated in the festival in 2018, the Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism said. In February, Osaka represented
POOR IMPLEMENTATION: Teachers welcomed the suspension, saying that the scheme disrupted school schedules, quality of learning and the milk market A policy to offer free milk to all school-age children nationwide is to be suspended next year due to multiple problems arising from implementation of the policy, the Executive Yuan announced yesterday. The policy was designed to increase the calcium intake of school-age children in Taiwan by drinking milk, as more than 80 percent drink less than 240ml per day. The recommended amount is 480ml. It was also implemented to help Taiwanese dairy farmers counter competition from fresh milk produced in New Zealand, which is to be imported to Taiwan tariff-free next year when the Agreement Between New Zealand and
Taiwanese professional baseball should update sports stadiums and boost engagement to enhance fans’ experience, Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) commissioner Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) told the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) in an interview on Friday. The league has urged Farglory Group and the Taipei City Government to improve the Taipei Dome’s outdated equipment, including relatively rudimentary television and sound systems, and poor technology, he said. The Tokyo Dome has markedly better television and sound systems, despite being 30 years old, because its managers continually upgraded its equipment, Tsai said. In contrast, the Taipei Dome lacked even a room for referees
RSS