Tsai’s allies make gains at DPP congress

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) leadership for the next two years took shape yesterday during elections at the annual congress as DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) gained an ability to influence the party’s power structure for the first time.

Tsai, who neither established her own alliance nor became affiliated with any grouping when she served as chairperson between 2008 and 2012, yesterday saw allies voted onto the party’s key decisionmaking bodies — the Central Executive Committee and the Central Standing Committee.

Hsieh Wei-chou wins Taipei nomination

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

After a fiercely competitive primary, Hsieh Wei-chou (謝維洲), son of former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), yesterday won the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) nomination for the Taipei City Council election in November.

The 31-year-old, who has never run in an election, finished third among six nominees in Taipei’s electoral districts of Shilin (士林) and Beitou (北投), where 10 aspirants ran in the primary.

NUCLEAR POWER DEBATE: ‘Give a speedy interpretation’: Hsieh

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and a group of lawmakers yesterday demanded a speedy constitutional interpretation of the nuclear dispute, amid lingering controversy over the the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District (貢寮).

Four months have passed since Hsieh and 40 DPP lawmakers demanded an interpretation from the Justices of the Constitutional Court on Dec. 29 last year, Hsieh told a press conference.

Su pledges support to DPP candidates until tenure is over

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) has vowed to work hard on campaigning for the seven-in-one elections in November, despite his decision to not seek re-election or to run in Taoyuan’s mayoral election, politicians who met with Su yesterday quoted him as saying.

Former DPP lawmakers Lee Chen-nan (李鎮楠), Kuo Jung-tsung (郭榮宗) and Liao Pen-yen (廖本煙) visited Su at the party’s headquarters a day after the DPP leader’s surprise announcement that he is dropping out of next month’s chairmanship election.

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: DPP heavyweights ponder future after exiting race

By Chris Wang

Surprise at the students charging onto the legislative floor on the night of March 18 without experiencing major resistance must be matched by wonder at the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) highly anticipated chairman election transforming from a three-way race into a likely coronation in just a single day.

With the exits of DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), victory is within arm’s reach for former chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).

Su, Hsieh drop out of DPP chair race

PARTY UNITY FIRST:：Both said they made the moves to prevent divisions in the party being exacerbated by fierce competition for the position at a critical time
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Tue, Apr 15, 2014 - Page 1

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday made surprising announcements hours apart that they were dropping out of the party chair election next month, leaving former DPP chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) the favorite to win what had been expected to be a fierce three-way race.

Tsai and former Kaohsiung County deputy commissioner Kuo Tai-lin (郭泰麟) will likely be the remaining candidates in the election to determine who will lead the party from this year to 2016.

DPP argues over Chinese influence on elections

‘RUDE’:Frank Hsieh said Tung Li-wen’s comments about Hsieh being a favorite of the Chinese were rude because he had left the meeting before Tung began his speech
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), longtime political rivals who could meet in the party’s chairmanship election in May, yesterday exchanged verbal jabs over reports of Chinese interference in the election.

In a keynote speech to the DPP’s Central Standing Committee on Wednesday, Taiwan Thinktank councilor Tung Li-wen (董立文) said Beijing’s planned to “eliminate Su” due to the chairman’s hawkish China policy.

Hsieh unveils his DPP campaign platform

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday unveiled his campaign platform for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairmanship election in May, focusing on three key areas — a feasible China policy, party reform and central government reform.

“I believe that the ‘two constitutions, different interpretations’ (憲法各表) initiative I’ve been advocating for more than three years is a feasible China policy that should help the party cross ‘the last mile’ and return to power [in 2016],” Hsieh said during a meeting with reporters.

Former premier confirms intention to run in DPP chairperson election

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday announced he would run for the chairmanship of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in May, setting up a potential three-way race between Hsieh, incumbent DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and former DPP chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) for the leadership.

Speaking to the media before the party’s weekly Central Standing Committee meeting, Hsieh formally announced his bid for the election, saying he could better promote his political vision and initiative and speed up party reform if he was chairman.

Su stays mum on election plans

RACE TO THE TOP:The DPP chairman said consolidation within the party was a top priority, but former chairperson Tsai Ing-wen said party competition would be inevitable
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday played down criticism from his long-time political rival and former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) upon his return to Taipei after a six-day visit to Europe, stressing party consolidation in an election year.

Su dodged media inquiries about Hsieh’s criticism against his leadership and intention to run both in the chairman election in May and the presidential election in 2016, saying that the most important task for the party is “consolidation and answering the public’s concerns.”

Poll shows strong support for Frank Hsieh initiative

VOTE-WINNER:Chao Tien-lin said ‘two constitutions, different interpretations’ was favored over the so-called ‘1992 consensus’ because of its pragmatism
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

An opinion poll released yesterday showed that former premier Frank Hsieh’s (謝長廷) initiative of “two constitutions, different interpretations (憲法各表)” has stronger support than the so-called “1992 consensus” advocated by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Beijing.

While 57.9 percent of the respondents said they supported Hsieh’s proposal, 45.4 percent of those polled supported the “1992 consensus,” Harbor Cities Exchange Foundation executive director Chan Chao-tsung (詹昭聰) said at a press conference in Taipei.

DPP faces three-way election for chair

SHOWDOWN:Most analysts say the possibility of a three-way race is low and that most likely Su Tseng-chang would compete with either Frank Hsieh or Tsai Ing-wen
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday did not rule out running in the party’s election of a new chair in May, setting up a potential competition between three of the DPP’s heavyweights — Hsieh, incumbent DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and former DPP chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).

Hsieh criticized Su in a private conversation and said that if Su entered the election and the DPP’s presidential primary, he would “make Su miserable,” former DPP legislator Julian Kuo (郭正亮) wrote in a column published by the online news Web site my-formosa.com yesterday.

DPP defends its China policy review

‘STUBBORN’ INDEPENDENCE:Beijing said that the DPP’s policies incited hostility and confrontation, but the party said the public backed its stance and it would be flexible
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday responded to criticism from party members and across the Taiwan Strait about its “lame” China policy review, insisting that the review was a responsible move and an ongoing effort, and that the party’s core values and position could stand the test of time.

The provisional review, which was announced on Thursday, made no significant recommendations. It said that the spirit of the party’s 1999 resolution on the nation’s future remained unchanged, but that it would be flexible in the way it engages with China.

Heated debate expected at DPP meeting

POLICY SHOWDOWN:Senior party members have slammed the draft China policy report as being ‘conservative’ and lacking a conclusion on Taiwan’s political status
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Heated debate is expected in a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) meeting tomorrow, despite it having been scheduled as an occasion for the party to finalize and unveil its “new and improved” China policy, with DPP members still arguing about the independence clause and the party’s stance on facilitating cross-strait exchanges.

The moderate wing of the party, led by former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), published articles on various platforms ahead of tomorrow’s meeting — the finale of a series of seminars and expanded meetings held in the past seven months — to criticize the party’s “conservative stance” in the draft report.

Work with allies on ADIZ issue: DPP

SOVEREIGNTY:The Ma government should demand that China abolish the air defense identification zone in order to restore peace and stability to the region, the party said
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Taiwan should seek to work with its democratic allies Japan, the US, South Korea and ASEAN members in the face of rising tensions in the East China Sea following Beijing’s demarcation of an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Saturday, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday.

Taiwanese airlines should not submit their flight plans to Beijing as it has requested, it added.

Tsai, Hsieh deny Saturday meet report

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday denied a report that they had met on Saturday to discuss the DPP’s chairmanship election in May.

Cable news channel Formosa TV on Monday reported that the pair met on Saturday and that Tsai had urged Hsieh to run for the chairmanship against DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), who is expected to seek re-election.

Tsai office denies report on possible chairmanship bid

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The office of former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday denied a media report about Tsai’s alleged interest in seeking the chairmanship again in May next year, saying that it is “not an option for now.”

“In the most difficult time for Taiwan in recent memory, Tsai is working on standing on the same side with people and consolidating social forces, which is what the DPP itself should be doing.

Ma’s treatment of Wang ‘brutal’: Chen Chu

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Greater Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday described the current Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) infighting as “the worst” she has seen in her 40 years in politics, adding that President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) “political persecution” of Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) was “brutal.”

“What was the hurry? Was it necessary to launch the vendetta while Wang was out of the country for his daughter’s wedding? That is not the way people in southern Taiwan treat others,” Chen said on the sidelines of a DPP meeting, referring to Ma’s move to oust Wang over accusations of “illegal lobbying.”

Top aide to Frank Hsieh denies report on Macau casino

HIGH-ROLLER?‘Next Magazine’ reported Lin Yao-wen was planning a casino with Chinese partners and lost and won back US$3.3 million gambling in Macau
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Lin Yao-wen (林耀文), a top aide to former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), yesterday denied a media report that he had gambled at a Macau casino earlier this year and had planned a joint casino venture with Chinese businesspeople.

In a press release issued by Hsieh’s office, Lin, who is the office’s director, said that the report published yesterday by the Chinese-language Next Magazine was incorrect and he would file a lawsuit against it.

DPP holds first China meeting

APPROACH:Participants in the first of nine special meetings appeared to be split on the party’s general strategy on cross-strait relations, a member said
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) first of nine special meetings ended yesterday, during which the party reaffirmed its resolution on Taiwan’s future of 1999 and opposition to the “one China” framework as the core values of the DPP’s China policy.

Party members agreed that the party has to be flexible in its dealings with Beijing to vie for domestic as well as international support.