2024 Elections: Stable US relations key, TPP’s Ko says
At a press conference, Ko was questioned about strained cross-strait relations and how he would navigate this situation alongside Taiwan’s ties with the US if elected. Ko said that the US is Taiwan’s most important ally and also the most powerful country in the world. Taiwan People’s Party presidential candidate Ko Wen-je and his running mate Cynthia Wu are pictured during a news conference in Taipei yesterday. The TPP’s approach would involve prioritizing seamless communications with the US to prevent any unexpected developments, thereby establishing a foundation of mutual trust, he said. “Among the current trio of candidates, Ko Wen-je is the only person who is acceptable to both China and the United States.
Source:Taipei Times
January 12, 2024 21:39 UTC
2024 Elections: Expect pressure: officials
2024 Elections: Expect pressure: officialsBy Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard / ReutersChina is likely to attempt to put pressure on Taiwan’s incoming president after the nation goes to the polls today, including staging military maneuvers near the country this spring, two senior government officials said. No matter which candidate wins the presidential election, Beijing’s military and economic pressure on Taiwan’s next president is likely to increase, officials speaking on condition of anonymity said. The Taiwanese official said Beijing could also opt to limit any show of military force in the coming months because of considerations including improving US-China relations. Should a party that wins the presidency fail to gain a legislative majority, China is likely to label the new administration a “minority government,” the Taiwanese official said. “China’s voting interference in Taiwan is a textbook example,” the first Taiwanese official said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 12, 2024 21:37 UTC
Ad brings welcome perspective
Ad brings welcome perspectiveBy Knight Chang 張天泰With Taiwan’s presidential election fast approaching, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) released a campaign advertisement for its presidential candidate Vice President William Lai (賴清德) and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴). The ad, on the theme of “On the Road,” has been viewed and “liked” by a huge number of people across various social media platforms. After a while the car stops, Tsai gets out and in steps Hsiao, as Lai takes the wheel. After Tsai bids them farewell, Lai and Hsiao drive off, while talking about what direction they should take from now on. That might be true, but I would also say that we must not overlook the trends among Taiwan’s swing voters.
Source:Taipei Times
January 11, 2024 21:44 UTC
EDITORIAL: Taiwan not in safe hands with Ko
EDITORIAL: Taiwan not in safe hands with KoAs the presidential election enters the final countdown, all three tickets are using every second to woo votes. Fed up with the long-term rivalry and conflict between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), they find Ko and his party “less detestable” than the others. Taiwan would not have the freedom it has today if not for the relentless efforts paid in blood by DPP democracy advocates. Only with President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) eight years of exceptional diplomatic and domestic leadership has Taiwan become Asia’s top democracy and economy. If Taiwan and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電) were to fall into the hands of China, Taiwan would find itself on the US sanctions list.
Source:Taipei Times
January 11, 2024 21:39 UTC
2024 Elections: Ko rejects Jaw DPP appeal
2024 Elections: Ko rejects Jaw DPP appealBy Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNATaiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday said that pan-green camp politicians would not be excluded from his coalition government if he is elected. Ko was responding to an appeal by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) vice presidential candidate and Broadcasting Corp of China chairman Jaw Shaw-kong (趙少康) to renounce all cooperation with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) if he becomes president. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je, right, greets supporters in Taipei yesterday. Supporters of Taiwan People’s Party Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je and vice presidential candidate Cynthia Wu hold signs in Taipei yesterday. “Ko’s consistent arrogance and ignorance revealed that he does not have the temperament and character to be a presidential candidate,” Chang said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 11, 2024 21:37 UTC
Failed Han should not be speaker
Failed Han should not be speakerBy Lin Bo-feng 林伯峰The Kaohsiung Metro’s circular light rail line has finally been completed, with the soft opening of its final section on Dec. 31 last year. This moment had been delayed for two years, mostly because of former Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), who was in office for a year and a half without achieving anything. Instead of getting on with his job as mayor, he stood as the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) candidate in the 2020 presidential election. Taken together, Han’s presidential election defeat, embarrassing recall vote and the defeat of the KMT’s candidate to replace him add up to three “no” votes for Han. Despite his triple rejection, the KMT regards Han as a major asset.
Source:Taipei Times
January 10, 2024 21:48 UTC
Robotic revolution
Cargo rates surge after Red Sea attacksGLOBAL SHIPPING: Rates for Asia to North Europe have more than doubled to above US$4,000 per 40-foot container, with Asia to Mediterranean prices climbing to US$5,175 Ocean freight rates are surging after a missile attack and attempted hijacking of a ship operated by AP Moller-Maersk A/S over the weekend prompted carriers to suspend plans to restart transits through the Red Sea, a key artery to the vital Suez Canal trade route. Yemen-based Houthi militants have been attacking high-value cargo vessels in the Red Sea since November last year in a show of support for Palestinian Islamist group Hamas fighting Israel in Gaza. It has forced ships to reroute around the southern tip of Africa, driving costs for vessels for the longer voyage, although rates are still far
Source:Taipei Times
January 10, 2024 21:48 UTC
Deep Taiwan-EU ties hard to break
Democracies across the world are alarmed by Beijing’s growing assertiveness, especially in light of Taiwan’s presidential election on Saturday. While threats from China have increased, demands for socioeconomic reforms have played a more significant role than in previous elections. As the largest foreign investor in Taiwan facing Chinese threats, Europe has reason to worry about its interests in the country. By engaging Europe on these issues, Taiwan can improve its understanding of the bloc’s diversity and complexity. Rather than allowing China to dominate — and constrain — the discourse, Europe and Taiwan should be coming together about their shared domestic concerns.
Source:Taipei Times
January 09, 2024 21:43 UTC
2024 Elections: TPP supporters protest media outside NCC
2024 Elections: TPP supporters protest media outside NCCBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterMore than 500 Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) supporters last night gathered outside the National Communications Commission’s (NCC) offices in Taipei to protest the regulator’s inaction on SET TV’s alleged illegal investment in the multiple systems operator Homeplus Digital. Protesters also accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of intervening in the establishment of the Mirror News channel. The TPP earlier said that television news channels were aligned with the DPP or the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), and are used to attack political rivals. Protest slogans are projected on the National Communications Commission building in Taipei during a demonstration last night. Taiwan People’s Party presidential candidate Ko Wen-je, front right on vehicle, addresses supporters as his campaign motorcade passes through Tainan yesterday.
Source:Taipei Times
January 09, 2024 21:39 UTC
Supporting hard-won democracy
Supporting hard-won democracyBy Jerome KeatingHaving spent the past three decades in Taiwan, I have watched firsthand the innumerable obstacles it overcame in shedding the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) one-party state to become a vibrant democracy. First, Taiwan is a democracy and it follows the rule of law to protect that democracy. I propose three basic questions as a type of litmus test:First, would you go to war to defend Taiwan’s democracy? Its presidential candidate, Vice President William Lai (賴清德), has experience as the nation’s vice president, as a legislator and a mayor. Those are good credentials and his stance on Taiwan’s democracy is evident enough.
Source:Taipei Times
January 08, 2024 21:45 UTC
TPP accuses TV channels of biased reporting
TPP accuses TV channels of biased reportingBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporter, with CNAThe campaign office of Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday accused television news channels of being associated with either the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) or Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and that they have become a weapon to attack political rivals. Taiwan People’s Party legislator-at-large candidates Huang Kuo-chang, left, and Vivian Huang, right, attend a news conference held by the party in New Taipei City yesterday. On Friday, SET News spent 22 minutes, 31 seconds reporting on negative news about the DPP’s political rivals, Huang said. He said that the channels have breached Article 46 of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act (總統副總統選舉罷免法) — which stipulates that TV channels should treat all the candidates in a fair and just manner. TPP legislator-at-large candidate Vivian Huang (黃珊珊), Ko’s campaign manager, said many news stories about the TPP had been blocked by the media outlet’s editors.
Source:Taipei Times
January 08, 2024 21:43 UTC
Taiwan to remain No. 2 in chip capacity
2 in chip capacityStaff writer, with CNATaiwan is forecast to retain its position as having the second-largest semiconductor capacity in the world this year, with production capacity set to increase more than 4 percent from a year earlier, the global semiconductor trade association SEMI said on Thursday. SEMI’s latest World Fab Forecast report said global semiconductor capacity is expected to rise 6.4 percent this year and surpass 30 million wafers per month to a new high after rising 5.5 percent to 29.6 wafers per month last year. South Korea’s capacity is expected to rise 5.4 percent from a year earlier to 5.10 million wafers per month, giving it the third-largest capacity in the world, the report said. Japan is expected to boost its output by about 2 percent from a year earlier to 4.70 million units per month, taking the No. As for the memorychip segment, DRAM suppliers are expected to raise capacity by 2 percent to 3.8 million wafers per month and an additional 5 percent to 4 million units per month next year, it said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 08, 2024 02:15 UTC
2024 Elections: Han was pressured: Ko
2024 Elections: Han was pressured: KoBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporter, with CNAFormer Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) must have been under party pressure in a call for his supporters to not vote for Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), Ko said yesterday, adding that was not what Han had told him in private. Photo: CNA“Ko Wen-je’s election campaign is like an air gun shot, making a loud noise, but he will not win. So dear Ko supporters, please switch your votes” [to the KMT], Han said. In response to Han’s remark, Ko yesterday said that Han is a KMT party member and also at the top of its legislator-at-large candidate list. “It is completely different than what he [Han] told me in private,” Ko said, adding that people subconsciously reveal their real thoughts in their speech, so when Han said it is not an issue of whether Ko is suitable for the presidency, what Han really means is that Ko is better than Hou.
Source:Taipei Times
January 07, 2024 21:46 UTC
EDITORIAL: The waning power of Dragons
EDITORIAL: The waning power of DragonsThe number of newborns each year in Taiwan has become a not-so-happy reminder that the nation’s birthrate is declining. Taiwan had the most births in the 1976 Year of the Dragon, with 425,125 newborns, government data showed. A glimpse of the number of newborns on New Year’s Day suggests that the number of Dragon babies might hit a new low unless the birthrate spikes unexpectedly. The population was 23,415,008 as of November last year, 181,415 more than the same period in 2022, ministry data showed. Are other factors, such as cultural values and social pressures placed on women, playing a bigger role in driving down the rate in Taiwan?
Source:Taipei Times
January 07, 2024 21:46 UTC
2024 Elections: Detained former spokesperson expelled: TPP
Ma, an independent legislative candidate in Taoyuan, is also the first candidate to be put under pre-trial detention in the run-up to Saturday’s presidential and legislative elections. The TPP yesterday afternoon issued a statement saying that as Ma is suspected of contravening the Anti-Infiltration Act (反滲透法) and has been detained, the party’s central review committee determined to she had contravened the party’s ethics rules and seriously damaged the party’s reputation, so it expelled her. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je speaks to reporters in Taichung yesterday. "Ma Chih-wei loves Taiwan and is an innocent young person," the statement said. As Ko previously made a remark that “China wants me to run for president,” he should disclose the political donations that the TPP received as soon as possible, Wang said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 06, 2024 21:40 UTC