Page Three

Taiwan and China should join hands to enter TPP

Want China Times
Editorial
Date: 2015-10-19

China has expressed its intention to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)

Trade representatives of the 12 negotiating countries attend a press conference for the TPP in Atlanta, Oct. 5. (Photo/Xinhua)

Trade representatives of the 12 negotiating countries attend a press conference for the TPP in Atlanta, Oct. 5. (Photo/Xinhua)

after the trade bloc’s 12 countries concluded negotiations on the common market’s parameters on Oct. 5.

This will pose a tough challenge to Taiwan, which has consistently stated its strong interest to join the TPP. Because the TPP features requirements beyond standard WTO rules, Taiwan should prepare for negotiations on those issues to join the pact to avoid being marginalized from regional economic integration.

In recent years, there has been a competition between two major trade agreements — the TPP and the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) — that are both aimed at promoting economic integration in the Asia Pacific region.     [FULL  STORY]

KMT lawmakers jump to defend Chu

DOUBLE STANDARD?KMT Legislator Alex Tsai cited 33 DPP members who did not give up their posts to run for new positions, including former vice president Annette Lu

Taipei Times
Date:  Oct 20, 2015
By: Stacy Hsu  /  Staff reporter

Amid growing criticism from the public and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), several Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers yesterday jumped to defend KMT Chairman Eric Chu’s (朱立倫) decision to run for president without resigning as New Taipei City mayor.

KMT Legislator Alex Tsai (蔡正元) yesterday shared two pictures on Facebook detailing the names of DPP members and overseas politicians who have run for new positions without resigning their current seats.

“Politicians running for new positions without quitting their current posts is common practice around the world, and has been seen in the US, France and South Korea,” Tsai said in one of the pictures, citing US President Barack Obama, US Secretary of State John Kerry, former French president Jacques Chirac and South Korean President Park Geun-hye as examples.     [FULL  STORY]

The other side of Taiwan

The West Australian
Date: October 19, 2015
By: Ronan O’Connell

Ronan O’Connell is left entranced by Sun Moon Lake.

The tour boat scythes across the glassy water, sending gentle ripples

Lush lofty hills surround the lake. Picture: Ronan O'Connell

Lush lofty hills surround the lake. Picture: Ronan O’Connell

towards the lush, lofty hills which surround Sun Moon Lake.

Golden rays sneak through the clouds to bounce off the lake’s surface, which takes on a warm hue in the fading evening light. The wide wings of a snow-white egret flap gracefully as it swoops low over the shallows, scouting for its dinner.

The clicking of camera shutters is the only noise which penetrates the silence among the dozens of tourists aboard our vessel. Sun Moon Lake is said to have mystical properties and, in this moment, its power to captivate is undoubted.

Taiwan is synonymous with modernity — skyscraper-strewn cities, cutting-edge technology and giant electronics factories. It is, however, a country blessed by its environment, with the island cloaked in dense forest, crisscrossed by pristine rivers and oversupplied with soaring mountains.     [FULL  STORY]

No plans to run as Tsai’s running mate: Chen Chu

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-10-18
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu denied she was planning to run beside

No plans to run as Tsai’s running mate: Chen Chu. Central News Agency

No plans to run as Tsai’s running mate: Chen Chu. Central News Agency

Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen as running mate, adding that she already has her hands tied as campaign manager, reports said Sunday.

Tsai’s national campaign headquarters was inaugurated in Taipei Sunday, as the DPP has rented the first, second, 13th and 14th floors of the Huitai Building, near its headquarters on Beiping E Road in Taipei.

“Let the presidential campaign officially begin,” Chu said in her opening speech.

When asked if she was planning to run beside Tsai next January, Chu said she has no intention to do so as she was re-elected in the local elections last year, affirming that she will fulfill her duties as campaign manager and Kaohsiung mayor.     [FULL  STORY]

KMT, DPP presidential candidates promise civil campaign

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/10/18
By: Hsieh Chia-chen, Sophia Yeh and S.C. Chang

Taipei, Oct. 18 (CNA) Ruling Kuomintang (KMT) chairman and presidential

Chu, Tsai and Soong (L to R, front) CNA file photo

Chu, Tsai and Soong (L to R, front) CNA file photo

nominee Eric Chu (朱立倫) on Sunday welcomed a pledge by his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rival to end political strife and run a civil campaign.

Chui said that when he met Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) at the Double Ten National Day celebrations on Oct. 10, “I told her that I was pleased to see her on that occasion and welcomed her presence at the National Day ceremony, hoping that this will no longer be an issue,” said Chu, who replaced Hung Hsiu-chu as the KMT’s presidential nominee a day earlier.

In an exclusive interview with CNA, Chu said he shared the view of the DPP chairwoman and presidential nominee that Taiwan’s democracy has entered an “uplifting” stage and it is time to let go of negative campaigning.     [FULL  STORY]

US to re-evaluate Taiwanese presidential election: academic

Want China Times
Date: 2015-10-18
By: CNA

The United States could re-evaluate Taiwan’s presidential election, scheduled

Eric Chu speaks at a Special KMT Congress in Taipei, Oct. 17. (File photo/Liu Tsung-lung)

Eric Chu speaks at a Special KMT Congress in Taipei, Oct. 17. (File photo/Liu Tsung-lung)

for Jan. 16, 2016, following the nomination of Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu as the ruling party’s presidential candidate, professor Chen I-hsin of Tamkang University said on Saturday.

A special KMT party congress on Saturday approved a resolution that Chu should replace Legislative Yuan Deputy Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu as the party’s presidential candidate.

Chen said a source at a US think tank told him the US would re-evaluate its position if Chu was the KMT candidate.

Chen said US think tanks were surprised when Hung was nominated as the KMT’s presidential candidate on July 19, having expected Eric Chu to be selected.     [FULL  STORY]

DPP’s Tsai 20 points clear: poll

BLUE SKY:In a head-to-head vote between the DPP’s Tsai and the KMT’s Chu, 54.4 percent of respondents said they would vote for Tsai while 27.2 percent for Chu

Taipei Times
Date:  Oct 19, 2015
By: Alison Hsiao  /  Staff reporter

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡

People First Party presidential candidate James Soong, kneeling center, poses with children while visiting Minsiong Township in Chiayi County yesterday. Photo: CNA

People First Party presidential candidate James Soong, kneeling center, poses with children while visiting Minsiong Township in Chiayi County yesterday. Photo: CNA

英文) has retained a more than 20-point lead over the presidential candidate fielded by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), despite the party’s decision to replace Deputy Legislative Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) with KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), a Cross-Strait Policy Association poll released yesterday indicated.

Tsai was supported by 45.2 percent of those polled, giving her a 23.3-point lead over Chu who garnered 21.9 percent, with 13.8 percent of respondents backing People First Party presidential candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜).

According to this and other association surveys, Tsai’s support is still about 40 percent, while Soong’s has dropped to a new low, giving the KMT’s presidential campaign a boost of 3.4 percentage points following its selection of Chu.     [FULL  STORY]

Ma and Hung open KMT congress

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-10-17
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – President Ma Ying-jeou opened the special

Ma and Hung open KMT congress. Central News Agency

Ma and Hung open KMT congress. Central News Agency

Kuomintang congress Saturday with a strong call for unity, saying the party would lose if it was divided.

The main topic at the meeting was the eventual replacement of Legislative Vice Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu as presidential candidate by party chairman Eric Liluan Chu.

The aim of the congress was to find a consensus and solidarity, Ma said. He reminded his audience about the 2000 election when the KMT became an opposition party for the first time ever. Independent candidate James Soong split the KMT camp, allowing the opposition Democratic Progressive Party to win.

Hung, who was seated in the first row next to Ma’s empty seat, did not applaud with the crowd for his speech, camera footage showed.     [FULL  STORY]

Chu sees tough battle ahead as KMT’s new presidential candidate

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/10/17
By: Ta Ya-chen, Claudia Liu and Lilian Wu

Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) Ruling Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) 201510170021t0001said Saturday that he has a tough fight ahead and a great responsibility as the party’s new presidential candidate and wants the party to unite as it makes a fresh start.

A proposal to pick Chu as the KMT’s new presidential candidate was approved by a special party congress by means of standing ovation Saturday, three months before the Jan. 16, 2016 election.

He replaces Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱), who was confirmed in July as the KMT presidential candidate but since then had been unable to narrow the huge gap between her and the Democratic Progressive Party candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文 ) in the public opinion polls.     [FULL  STORY]

DPP to maintain original campaign strategy: Tsai

Taipei Times
Date:  Oct 18, 2015
By: Loa Iok-sin  /  Staff reporter

Although the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday decided to change

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen yesterdya shakes hands with supporters in Taipei. Tsai said the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) decision to change presidential candidate highlights a conflict between the party’s system and internal integration. Photo: Chen Wei-tsung, Taipei Times

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen yesterdya shakes hands with supporters in Taipei. Tsai said the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) decision to change presidential candidate highlights a conflict between the party’s system and internal integration. Photo: Chen Wei-tsung, Taipei Times

its presidential candidate, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said her party has taken every variable into consideration and plans to continue to follow its original strategy.

“The DPP has shown solidarity, and everyone on the team has the same objective,” Tsai said in response to media queries.

“All of the party’s talent are in their respective positions, and we plan to put out our full efforts into the last 90-odd days left [in the election campaign] for our best performance,” she added.

Asked about the KMT’s possible plan to place Legislative Speaker Wang Jing-pyng (王金平) in first place on its at-large legislator list, Tsai said that the DPP considered the possibility of such events at the beginning of its campaign and carefully planned its strategy accordingly.     [FULL  STORY]