TPP could hurt national securityBy Lin Shiou-jeng 林修正Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) has come under fire amid reports that the party has selected Xu Chunying (徐春鶯), a Chinese immigrant and an advocate for foreign-born spouses, who was allegedly a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) cadre, for its list of legislator-at-large nominees. To justify his selection, Ko said that as more than 1 million Taiwanese residents have links to Chinese spouses, they have a right to be represented and should not be treated like enemies. However, Ko’s nomination would throw Chinese spouses in Taiwan in greater fear. As a former CCP cadre, Xu would have had close connections with the Chinese government and the CCP. Chinese spouses who came to Taiwan seeking love and starting a new family here are also looking for a way out, away from China’s clutches.

Questions over Li Keqiang’s deathBy Hong Tsun-ming 康駿銘Former Chinese premier Li Keqiang (李克強) died on Friday last week at the age of 68, reportedly of a heart attack. Li Keqiang was actually in quite a weak position even when he was in office, so after he stepped down prematurely, his political power was obviously even more ephemeral. Although Li Keqiang’s talents were questionable, his economic ideas, known as “Likonomics,” are somewhat in demand during the economic collapse caused by Xi’s protectionism. There were frequent calls of “up with Li, down with Xi,” so no wonder Li Keqiang became a thorn in the dictator’s side. Hong Tsun-ming, originally from Hong Kong, is a specialist in the Taiwan Statebuilding Party’s international section.

JANUARY ELECTIONS: KMT and TPP campaign promises ‘empty,’ Lai saysBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterVice President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday accused the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) of making empty campaign promises, adding that their partnership would have little bearing on his campaign for president. “Since I launched my campaign for president, I have been responsibly presenting my policies for the country’s future. People have also seen the attempts of the KMT and TPP. Does he want to cancel farmers’ health insurance?” Lai asked. The International Air Transport Association estimated that the global aviation industry would fully return to pre-COVID-19 levels by 2025.

JANUARY ELECTIONS: TPP aims to have 17,000 volunteers at polling stationsStaff writer, with CNAThe Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) plans to enlist more than 17,000 volunteers to monitor the vote-counting process during the presidential and legislative elections on Jan. 13 next year, TPP Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said yesterday. There would likely be more than 17,000 polling stations across Taiwan for the elections, and the TPP hopes to have at least one volunteer at each to “safeguard Taiwan’s democracy,” Ko told a news conference in New Taipei City. Political parties generally have people posted at polling stations to ensure that basic procedures are followed and to monitor the vote-counting process. Taiwan People’s Party chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Whatever happened, the TPP “would make the most of each day to connect with the people and learn their concerns,” Ko said.

BRI at 10 faces many challengesBy Meng Chih-cheng 蒙志成The third Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit was held in Beijing on Oct. 17 and 18, as China celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with more than 140 countries, 30 international organizations and 24 heads of state in attendance. Nevertheless, the Beijing summit, which was held amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas, highlighted the significance of the BRI over the past decade. Xi visited Moscow in March and signed statements on strategic partnerships and economic cooperation with Russia. Third, Russia is gradually shifting its focus toward the Pacific Ocean, while China is facing a complex situation in the South China Sea. Xi’s recent actions to support the BRI include promoting cooperation, green development, scientific innovation, people-to-people exchanges and better societies, as well as strengthening the initiative’s international cooperation mechanism.

The TPP has yet to confirm or deny the selection of Xu, which was first reported by Mirror Media on Thursday last week. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Tsai Shih-ying, right, speaks at a news conference held by the DPP caucus at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday. She said that the DPP appointed former CCP member Ning Jiarong (寧家榮) to an internal party committee several years ago. DPP Legislator Tsai Shih-ying (蔡適應) yesterday said that Ko’s remarks revealed two things. “One is that the TPP has indeed decided to enlist Xu as one of its legislators-at-large,” Tsai said.

Even though Hou seemed magnanimous in accepting the proposal, he is only looking for a way out in the event the alliance fails. In the 2020 presidential election, the TPP did not have a presidential candidate and secured just five legislator-at-large seats. In comparison, the pan-blue camp seems heavily divided regarding the KMT’s presidential candidate, with many harboring grievances and voicing complaints over the nomination process. If the KMT loses the presidential election, Hou would be kissing his political career an early goodbye. Hou’s “magnanimous” attitude sets the scene: In the event that the “blue-white alliance” collapses, the fault would lie with the TPP.

Table tennis team stars for Taiwan at Asian Para GamesStaff writer, with CNA, Hangzhou, ChinaTaiwan finished their Asian Para Games campaign on Saturday with a total of four gold, four silver and 12 bronze medals, with their table tennis team winning 10 medals. Taiwan’s Lin Tzu-yu, left, and Lin Chun-ting pose with their medals on the podium after winning the table tennis mixed class 17-20 doubles at the Para Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Friday. The 32-year-old, who has muscular atrophy in his thumb, was working as an engineer before resuming his table tennis career. Taiwan sent a record 94 athletes to this year’s Asian Para Games, competing in 14 different sports, including taekwondo, wheelchair fencing and go, with Taiwanese athletes making their debut appearances. At the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Taiwan won two golds, nine silvers and 14 bronzes.

Brahma Chellaney On Taiwan: Two raging wars increase the risk of a thirdTaiwan is on the front line of international defense against expansionist authoritarianism. South Korea, however, may find it difficult to directly assist US-led operations to help Taiwan repulse a Chinese attack. To make matters worse, Russia also appears to be fashioning a North Korea card against South Korea. Against this backdrop, Russia now seems willing to play the North Korea card against South Korea, including by dangling the threat of transferring sensitive technologies to Pyongyang. Beijing thus could possibly egg on North Korea to rein in South Korea.

Bavuma says S Africa lucky to beat PakistanAFP, CHENNAI, IndiaSouth Africa skipper Temba Bavuma on Friday said that his team were lucky after pulling off a one-wicket win over Pakistan in a sensational finish to their Cricket World Cup match in Chennai. South Africa last pair Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj greet captain Temba Bavuma after their Cricket World Cup match against Pakistan at the M.A. “I do think we could have shown a lot more of a clinical display in going about that run chase,” Bavuma said. New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips reacts during their Cricket World Cup match against Australia at the Himachal Pradesh Stadium in Dharamsala, India, yesterday. Earlier, Travis Head marked his first World Cup game with 109 and David Warner made 81 for Australia, who gained their fourth win in six games.

Ko proposes inviting Terry Gou to KMT and TPP talksStaff writer, with CNATaiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential nominee Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) on Friday said that planned “party-to-party negotiations” with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) over possible collaboration in January’s elections should involve would-be independent presidential candidate Terry Gou (郭台銘). Taiwan People’s Party Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je speaks at a news conference in Taipei on Friday. KMT’s presidential candidate, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), the KMT and the TPP were to meet for the first round of negotiations on Friday, but it was postponed for unstated reasons. Hou has urged Ko to work with the KMT on forming a coalition and discuss how to create a joint presidential ticket through negotiations. The parties have agreed to continue talks for a collaboration as both sides agreed that their supporters want to see a unified opposition to remove the DPP from office.

EDITORIAL: China relations need adjustmentChinese researchers are advising the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on measures to prepare for US sanctions on China in the event of a war with Taiwan, Reuters reported on Friday last week. With so much of the world’s goods still being manufactured in China, sanctions would mean that the cost of almost everything would go up significantly. “Partly in response to this, the EU and US have sought to de-risk and diversify supply chains and on-shore production of chips. This is the crux of all issues related to China and its relationship with democracies. Only through decreased interdependence with China can democracies truly be strong and remain autonomous.

Tata Group to become the first Indian iPhone makerBloombergTata Group is set to seal a deal to become India’s first homegrown iPhone maker after Wistron Corp (緯創) yesterday agreed to sell a plant in the southern part of the country to the conglomerate. The unit operates an iPhone assembly plant near Bengaluru, a person familiar with the matter said. Wistron is one of three Taiwanese iPhone manufacturers in India, along with Foxconn and Pegatron. It has sought to diversify its business beyond thin-margin iPhone manufacturing into areas such as servers, agreeing to sell its iPhone production business in China to a competitor in 2020. That plant stands on several hundred hectares of land where Tata could add iPhone manufacturing lines in the next few years.

Taskin says ‘nothing for bowlers’ at World CupAFP, KOLKATA, IndiaBangladesh spearhead Taskin Ahmed yesterday said that “there’s nothing much for bowlers” at the Cricket World Cup as runs flow in India’s batting paradise. Bangladesh’s Taskin Ahmed reacts during their ICC Cricket World Cup match against New Zealand at the M.A. Photo: AFP“There’s nothing much for the bowlers,” said Taskin, who has taken only two wickets in three matches at a cost of 126 runs. “Like we have seen there are express fast bowlers in the world, they’re also struggling, leaking runs. You need a lot of skills to do well on this kind of surface.”Bangladesh are eighth in the 10-team World Cup table, while the Netherlands are at the bottom.

A further amendment adds the offense of firing a gun in a public place. Germany’s Weapons Act could be a useful point of reference. Second, the model of legislating the offense of shooting a gun in a public place should be adjusted. The third point concerns adding a legal basis for reviewing low-power guns. The public hopes that the authorities can crack down on illegal guns, prevent modified guns and vigorously uphold public safety.