Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday criticized the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) for relaxing its "black-gold exclusion" clause.
"It is important to do the right thing," Hsieh said during a visit to the Aboriginal community in Sandimen (三地門), Pingtung County.
"A candidate would only live up to his high poll rating if he does the right thing," he said. "Those who do the wrong thing will eventually be renounced by the public."
Hsieh said KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) choice of former premier Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) as his running mate proved the KMT lacked consistency.
Hsieh said the pan-blue camp had criticized the government's build, operate and transfer policy, claiming it had only benefitted big corporations over the past five years, yet the policy had been initiated when Siew was premier.
"How could they give recognition to someone after they have criticized him for five years? Only a campaign that does not have consistent thinking would do something like this," Hsieh said.
He also stressed the differences between his economic policies and those of his rivals, saying Siew had promoted growth through land deals during his term in office, but to do so today would contribute to environmental problems such as pollution.
"Taiwan does not need to boost its economy by exploitation of the environment now," Hsieh said. "Instead, Taiwan has begun to emphasize environmental protection and sustainability."
"Our [the DPP's] economic policies are different from theirs [the KMT's]. We want to pursue a quality economy while they are seeking economic growth through the over-development of the environment," he said.
When asked who he was considering for a running mate, Hsieh said he would not toss out names.
"Once we name a candidate, he or she will be the one," he said.
Meanwhile, DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (
"It is a campaign ploy," Ker said. "Under the new `single district, two votes' system, it will be almost impossible for the DPP to capture a legislative majority."
The Thai government on Friday announced that Taiwanese would be allowed to stay in the country for up to 60 days per entry, under the Southeast Asian country’s visa-free program starting from today. Taiwan is among 93 countries included in the Thai visa-waiver program, which has been expanded from 57 countries, with the visa-exempt entry extended from 30 to 60 days. After taking office last year, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has vowed to grant more visa waivers to foreign travelers as part of efforts to stimulate tourism. The expanded visa-waiver program was on Friday signed by Thai Minister of the Interior Anutin
BAIL APPEALS: The former vice premier was ordered to be held incommunicado despite twice being granted bail and paying a total of NT$12 million in bond The Taoyuan District Court yesterday ordered the detention of former vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), who is being investigated for alleged corruption while serving as Taoyuan mayor from December 2014 to December 2022, and that he be held incommunicado. The court made the ruling during a bail hearing after prosecutors appealed its bail ruling twice. Cheng on Saturday was released after posting bail of NT$5 million (US$153,818). However, after prosecutors lodged an appeal, the High Court on Monday revoked the original ruling and ordered the Taoyuan District Court to hold another bail hearing. On Tuesday, the district court granted bail to Cheng a second
PEACE AND SECURITY: China’s military ambitions present ‘the greatest strategic challenge to Japan and the world, Japan’s annual defense white paper said yesterday Japan yesterday warned that China risked escalating tensions with Taiwan with an increase in military exercises that appeared aimed in part at readying Beijing’s forces for a possible invasion. Japan’s annual assessment of security threats, including those posed by China, North Korea and Russia, comes as Taiwan closely monitors Chinese People’s Liberation Army air and sea exercises, including one with the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean. The drills are the latest in a series including maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait last year that a senior US general said would be key to any invasion. “Because of that increase in military activity,
HAN KUANG: The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers said The armed forces would for the first time test new rules of engagement (ROE) at this month’s annual Han Kuang exercises, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said yesterday. The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games, and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers told a news conference in Taipei. ROE cards would be issued to select combat troops to test their ability to function without tight control, they said. The most recent edition of the rules was published last year, they said. One of the cards’ two templates identifies enemy targets that soldiers