Taiwan News
Date: 2016-01-10
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je stumped for Democratic Progressive Party legislative

candidate Chung Chia-pin during a campaign rally in Pingtung on Sunday after reaching Kaohsiung from Taipei on a 380-kilometer bicycle stretch which began in the wee hours on Saturday.

“He is a talent not to be overlooked,” Ko said.

Dressed in the outfit of a professional cyclist, the mayor traveled with a contingent of bodyguards and logistics personnel, all on bicycle, who made sure that he has a safe and well-organized tour.

The morning event was Ko’s second trip to Pingtung when Chung was then-municipal mayor of Pingtung County.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/01/10
By: Zoe Wei and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, Jan. 10 (CNA) An approaching cold front will not bring in new air

Kaohsiung. (CNA photo Dec. 22, 2015)

pollutants but the air quality will remain poor in southern Taiwan over the next three days due to poor conditions for atmospheric dispersion, a senior official responsible for air monitoring said Sunday.

The Central Weather Bureau forecast that under the influence of the cold front, the weather will be cold and wet in the north over the coming week.

Observing that the cold front is not very strong, Tsai Hung-te (蔡鴻德), director of the Department of Environmental Monitoring and Information Management under the Environmental Protection Administration, said the chances of the cold front bringing air pollutants into Taiwan are not high.

Thanks to high water vapor levels, the air quality in the north will not become worse, Tsai said. “But in the next three days, the central and southern areas will be affected by poor conditions for atmospheric dispersion, under which the air quality will become increasingly worse in the afternoon.”     [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date:  Jan 11, 2016
By: Wang Chieh and Jonathan Chin  /  Staff reporter, with staff writer

People First Party (PFP) presidential candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜)

People First Party presidential candidate James Soong reaches out to shake hands with supporters at a campaign rally in Kaohsiung yesterday. Photo: CNA

campaigned in Tainan yesterday, where he pledged to lead the nation out of its difficulties if elected and help it return to prosperity.

Soong began his day by visiting the Chenghuang Temple (城隍廟), where he shook hands and posed for photographs with PFP supporters before entering the temple grounds to offer incense.

In a speech at the Selflessness Pavilion (無私亭), Soong said Tainan was where he began his campaign after he announced his presidential bid last year, adding that he would run the nation with the public in mind, which would honor the venue of his speech.

“I would care for all public affairs, great as well as small, and listen to all voices, including those that are angry or critical,” he said.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-01-09
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – People First Party presidential candidate James

Soong wears bulletproof vest. Central News Agency (2016-01-09 18:22:20)

Soong was seen wearing a bulletproof vest Saturday in what was interpreted as a stepping up of safety measures in the final week of campaigning for the January 16 elections.

While politics in Taiwan is rarely violent, President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu were injured on the eve of their re-election victory in 2004 by a reportedly disgruntled man who fired a gun at them as they were passing by in an open jeep.

Soong appeared on the famous Old Street in Sanxia, New Taipei City, Saturday morning to meet with voters. Reporters noted that he was wearing a thicker vest with his name written on it than on previous occasions. Aides reportedly acknowledged they had counseled Soong to start wearing a bulletproof vest during public events.

Soong narrowly lost the 2000 presidential election when he ran as an independent. He later founded the PFP and in 2004 ran as the vice-presidential candidate with then-Kuomintang Chairman Lien Chan.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/01/05
By: Tai Ya-chen and Elaine Hou

Taipei, Jan. 5 (CNA) More than 300 candidates will vie for 73 directly elected seats in Taiwan’s Legislature in national elections on Jan.16, over 30 percent more than four years ago, the Central Election Commission announced on Tuesday.

A total of 354 district legislative candidates — including those from the ruling Kuomintang and the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party — have registered to compete to represent Taiwan’s 73 electoral districts, compared with 269 in the 2012 elections.

Several new parties have also nominated candidates in the legislative elections, including the New Power Party, the Minkuotang, and the Faith and Hope League.

Many of the parties were formed in 2015 because of dissatisfaction with the performances of the existing major parties.

Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has a total of 113 seats. In addition to the 73 legislative seats that will be elected in “first-past-the-post” races, there are six seats reserved for aboriginal candidates and the other 34 seats go to at-large legislators.     [FULL  STORY]