A group of 17 Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators departed on Friday for China, saying before their flight that they believe the trip is the right decision despite criticism from the opposition.
The lawmakers led by KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) held a news conference at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at 2:30pm before their flight.
They were met by protesters and supporters, with both sides holding placards either criticizing them for leaving amidst natural disasters or calling for cross-strait interaction.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
In addition to Fu, other members of the delegation include KMT legislators Chang Chih-lun (張智倫), Liao Hsien-hsiang (廖先翔), Chen Hsueh-sheng (陳雪生), Chen Yu-chen (陳玉珍), Huang Jen (黃仁), Weng Hsiao-ling (翁曉玲), Cheng Cheng-chien (鄭正鈐), Lin Chien-chi (林倩綺), Chiu Chen-chun (邱鎮軍), Yu Hao (游顥), Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥), Hsu Hsin-ying (徐欣瑩), Sasuyu Ruljuwan and Sra Kacaw.
As the morning’s legislative procedures ended early, KMT legislators Lo Ming-tsai (羅明才) and Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) reportedly decided to join last minute.
Speaking to reporters at the legislature in the morning, Huang said that the party’s lawmakers had heard the public’s response to the trip, but decided that the people’s livelihood is the most important thing.
There should be positive interaction in cross-strait relations, he said.
Weng said she hopes to share Taiwan’s agricultural and fishery products with “Chinese friends.”
There is no wrong time to promote economic exchange, she said, adding that if the Democratic Progressive Party would not do it, the KMT will.
Cheng said that the group has still not seen the itinerary, but trusts that Fu will organize it well.
He denied that they were sworn to secrecy, saying only that they did not ask many details.
Chen said that the main goal of the visit was to convey to China the desire for peace, resumption of tourism and promotion of cross-strait development.
Three passengers and the assailant were reportedly injured in a knife attack on the Taichung MRT on Tuesday. The Rapid Transit Brigade of the Taichung Police Department is still investigating the incident, with no motive immediately apparent. Taichung Police Commissioner Lee Wen-chang (李文章) said that at least four people were injured in the attack, and the suspect has been taken into custody. The incident occurred at about 11:15am on a train car near Taichung City Hall Station. Witnesses reported seeing a man attacking others with a knife, while other passengers tried to grab his hair or fend him off with umbrellas. Three people were reportedly
‘OBNOXIOUS MAN’: The KMT’s Chen Ching-hui moved into Chung Chia-pin’s path atop the podium and reached for him before he grabbed at her legs with both hands Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱) yesterday said he slipped and lost his balance, and did not know who was around him, after jumping onto the speaker’s podium at the legislature in Taipei. He apologized after a collision with Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chen Ching-hui (陳菁徽), who moved to intercept him as he mounted the podium. There was pushing and shoving when the session started in the morning as KMT lawmakers attempted to block access to the podium to shield Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) so he could preside over the session. Video footage showed Chung step on a chair and
Schools in Keelung and four New Taipei City districts are to be closed to the public until Wednesday, as police continue searching for an escaped patient convicted of attempted murder. The New Taipei City Government on Tuesday decided to close campuses in Wanli (萬里), Sijhih (汐止), Pingsi (平溪) and Rueifang (瑞芳) districts to outsiders, as the patient was last spotted taking a bus toward Rueifang from Keelung. Police patrols have been increased near schools, the city government said, advising students to travel in groups and not linger near campus. The Keelung City Government earlier announced that campuses and local representative offices in the
Taipei police on Saturday arrested 24 female Thai tourists on suspicion of working as hostesses and engaging in illegal activities at an underground bar in Zhongshan District (中山), the distict’s police precinct said in a statement yesterday. The police also arrested five other people involved in the operation, including the 29-year-old bar owner surnamed Chiang (蔣), and 17 customers, the statement said. The 24 Thai women were fined an undisclosed amount in accordance with the Social Order Maintenance Act (社會秩序維護法) by the police and transferred to a National Immigration Agency (NIA) special brigade in Taipei for repatriation to Thailand. The cases of