DPP nominates Lai Ching-te for 2024 presidential election

DPP nominates Lai Ching-te for 2024 presidential election

2023-04-12

It is official! The DPP has announced Vice President Lai Ching-te as its nominee in the 2024 presidential election. At a Wednesday press conference, Lai promised to win by a landslide. He also pledged to help his party secure a majority in the legislature. Speaking on cross-strait affairs, Lai emphasized that there was no need for Taiwan to declare independence, as it was already a sovereign, independent country.

The DPP has formally nominated Lai Ching-te for the 2024 presidential election. At a Wednesday press conference, Lai spoke before a crowd of executive committee members, local elected officials, and directors of the DPP’s local offices.

Lai Ching-te
DPP presidential nominee
I’ll lead all DPP legislative candidates in connecting with progressive forces in society, to achieve our goals for the 2024 race. The first is for us to win the presidency by a landslide. The second is to win a legislative majority.

Lai said that democracy was at the center of his campaign, and that he will work toward “democratic unity,” “democratic governance” and “democratic peace.” As a self-declared “pragmatic Taiwan independence worker,” he reiterated his stance on cross-strait affairs.

Lai Ching-te
DPP presidential nominee
Taiwan has its own land and people. It is already a sovereign, independent country, so there is no need to otherwise declare independence. The R.O.C. and the PRC are not subordinate to each other. A majority of the population opposes unification with China and does not accept the “One China” principle, the “1992 Consensus” or “one country, two systems.” At the same time, the choice in 2024 is not one between war and peace. It is one between democracy and autocracy.

Lai said that as head of state, he would continue his predecessor’s policies.

Lai Ching-te
DPP presidential nominee
Under the leadership of President Tsai Ing-wen, the world has seen Taiwan, and affirmed Taiwan. We will walk on a similar road, so that Taiwan’s democracy remains strong.

With its presidential candidate finalized, the DPP has got a head start in campaigning for next year’s elections.

正式提名2024 賴:台灣已獨立、拒回專制老路

2023-04-12

民進黨中執會今天通過，公告提名賴清德參選2024總統大選，賴清德正式成為總統提名人。賴清德在提名記者會上承諾，將完成總統高票當選，以及國會單獨過半的目標。賴清德強調，台灣已經是主權獨立的國家，不必另外宣布獨立，他呼籲人民，再次用手中選票，拒絕走回專制的老路。

民進黨中執會公告提名賴清德出征2024總統選戰，記者會上中執委、縣市長、黨部主委全來了，賴清德許下勝選承諾。

[[民進黨總統提名人賴清德]]
“我將率領民進黨所有立委候選人，連結社會進步的力量，以完成2024年選舉總目標，第一，總統高票當選，第二，國會單獨過半”

賴清德提出三大民主行動，包括"民主團結"、"民主治理"、以及"民主和平"，曾說過自己是"務實的台獨工作者"，賴清德大篇幅闡述兩岸立場。

[[民進黨總統提名人賴清德]]
“台灣有土地，有人民，事實上已經是一個主權獨立的國家，不必另行宣佈獨立，中華民國與中華人民共和國互不隸屬，絕大多數的民眾反對統一，也不接受一個中國原則，九二共識一國兩制，2024年也不是戰爭與和平的選擇，而是民主與專制的抉擇”

未來的總統之路，賴清德強調將延續蔡英文路線。

[[民進黨總統提名人賴清德]]
“在蔡英文總統的領導之下，世界已經看見台灣，已經肯定台灣，在未來我將在相同的民主道路上，持續壯大民主台灣”

民進黨定於一尊，賴清德正式成為總統提名人，在這場大選賽程上，搶先起跑。

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On the third and final day of its military drills, China sent a record 91 warplanes near Taiwan, 54 of which crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. A day after the exercise concluded, foreign minister Joseph Wu condemned China’s actions in an interview with U.S. news outlet CNN.

Jim Sciutto
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Is Beijing, in your view, threatening Taiwan with war?

Joseph Wu
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Yes, indeed. Look at the military exercises, and also their rhetoric. They seem to be trying to get ready to launch a war against Taiwan.

Wu quoted the United Nations Charter, saying that settlement of international disputes should be resolved by peaceful means. He said that China was doing the opposite.

Joseph Wu
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[And Beijing’s way of handling the differences between Taiwan]…and China is through coercion, military threat, and the threat to use force against Taiwan. And these are unacceptable. And therefore the Taiwanese government looks at China’s military threat as something that cannot be accepted and we condemn them.

When asked if Taiwan had the weapons needed to defend itself, Wu responded in the affirmative.

Joseph Wu
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We have been procuring military arsenals from the United States for a long time, and when President Biden was in office all these years, they have announced nine batches of arms sales for Taiwan and we have also been increasing our military training so we are ready at any moment.

Wu said that in times of war, determination was sometimes more important than military hardware. He said the people of Taiwan would be ready to defend their country at any moment.

Joseph Wu
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I would say that Taiwan is absolutely determined to fight for our own freedom and to fight for our sovereignty. And we are ready to defend ourselves.

Wu asked the international community to urge China against the use of force, as a war would bring destruction not just to Taiwan.

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Taiwan’s automotive mega-show opened its doors on Wednesday, featuring over 2,000 booths with the latest in automotive electronics, car parts, and accessories. Among the highlights are Hon Hai’s latest electric vehicles. Hotai Motor is also making waves with its innovations in hydrogen cars. The two-in-one expo, called TAIPEI AMPA and Autotronics Taipei, will take place from April 12 to 15 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center.

A Japanese auto giant unveils its latest hydrogen car. Equipped with three hydrogen tanks and a fuel cell, the car generates electricity from a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen that produces no emissions but water. It’s been dubbed the most eco-friendly car yet. Its hydrogen tanks can be refilled in just three to five minutes, giving the vehicle a range of 750 kilometers.

This technology has been applied beyond small passenger vehicles. Hydrogen buses are already used in many European cities.

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Trends in EVs signal that the output value of the automotive electronics sector will hit NT$600 billion by 2025. So the automotive electronics sector could be Taiwan’s next trillion-NT-industry.

Another automaker showed off a 12-meter electric bus, the first of its kind in Taiwan. It uses in-wheel motors with lithium-titanium-oxide batteries, which charge from 20% to 80% in just 15 minutes and allow the bus to travel more than 500 kilometers in one day. Hon Hai is also making inroads into EV supply chains, and it showed three new EV models at the expo.

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According to industry experts, electric vehicle sales could surpass 30 million units globally by 2030, with output value of US$900 billion. Leading carmakers and parts suppliers are stepping up to secure their place in the booming EV market.

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Angi lifts up a Taiwanese flag to support Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly. She was part of the march at the WHA in Geneva last May. This year she wants to get even more people to Geneva to amplify the message.

Angi
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Taiwan has excellent health care. And we can help other countries. We should join the World Health Assembly, and we should be able to have a mutual exchange with others, on an equal level, about health issues.

Travel lover Angi was on a European tour when she ended up a part of the WHA march last year by coincidence. Since then she’s been filled with a mission, and this year she’s the goodwill ambassador of the Taiwanese Association in Switzerland. She hopes more private groups will still join the planned protest.

Angi
Travel blogger
I hope we can grow to a group of 500 people or more. We’ll start with a welcome party on May 19. Everyone who has come to support us in Geneva will be invited to a dinner held by the head of the association, Mr. Hsieh Chin. And on the morning of May 20 we will hold the march near the “Broken Chair” in Geneva.

Delegations from the Taiwanese Association in Switzerland and various private groups have recently paid visits to lots of local government officials. All their talks and marches aim to get Taiwan a seat at the WHA. Taipei doctor Chiang Kuan-yu has also announced he will lead a group of physicians to Geneva in May, to conduct exchanges with experts from all over the world.

Chiang Kuan-yu
Taipei City Hospital Zhongxing Branch
A group of 30 will go to Geneva to participate in WHA fringe events. We will hold a Global Health Diplomacy Forum in their ballroom, and we will take that opportunity to speak up together in support of Taiwan joining the structures of the World Health Organization.

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For pregnant women going to their prenatal checkups, taxi fare can add up fast if they can’t drive or take public transport. But in Taipei, moms-to-be could soon have a reason to celebrate. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an has announced a taxi subsidy program for pregnant women.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei mayor
We’re launching a taxi program for pregnant women. This not only fulfills a campaign promise I made last year, but is also outlined in our city government white paper. Compared to other programs, ours has the longest duration, as women become eligible during pregnancy. Secondly, we offer the highest amount of subsidy.

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Member of public
When I was pregnant I sometimes drove myself around. Other times I took a taxi, which would cost around NT$300 or NT$400 per trip.

Member of public
Will this increase the birthrate, who knows? But it will certainly be helpful for those who are already pregnant or have children.

The cab subsidy is set to launch in July. It will be open to people whose households are registered in Taipei, and who hold a government-issued “Pregnant Women’s Health Manual.” They can access the subsidy by registering on the TaipeiPASS mobile app, and by booking their rides in advance. Some 7,000 pregnant women are expected to benefit from the program, which is open to all income levels and will cost NT$39.2 million. The budget has already been allocated and awaits city council review.

Chan Wei-yuan
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It’s clear that this is a comprehensive measure to ease the financial burden on young parents. It could also attract residents from other cities and counties to register their households in Taipei.

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A sea of pink petals extends down the roadside as far as the eye can see. This is the village of Yilong in Chiayi’s Zhuqi Township. It becomes a fairyland with the blossoming of the pink shower tree.

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Weng Chang-liang
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It was the dream of the village head. Over such a long time, the last 11 years, they managed to create an enormous impact, and spread the power of beauty.

Local village chief Yeh Chih-hung is the one who first had a vision of Yilong awash with pink. Over the last 11 years, he planted more than 3,000 pink shower trees on 5 hectares of his own hillside land. Now, each year in April and May, the small village becomes a pink paradise. Yeh plans to start planting orange day-lilies, to bring even more botanical tourism to the area.

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We turn on streetlamps at dusk. We want people to be able to come here and enjoy the flowers, to come and visit our small farmers’ market, and drink a cup of coffee. Everyone is welcome!

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