Former Miaoli commissioner quits KMT, blasts Hou Yu-ih

Former Miaoli commissioner quits KMT, blasts Hou Yu-ih

2023-08-22

Former Miaoli Commissioner Hsu Yao-chang has quit the KMT, just weeks after calling for the party’s demise at a rally. Although Hsu says it was a slip of the tongue, he had more harsh words for the party on Tuesday, when announcing his exit. Now the question is whether he will try to run for legislator in Miaoli County, which is traditionally a KMT stronghold. He says he may run if he’s asked to do so by the current Miaoli commissioner, or if he’s forced to by other circumstances.

Earlier this month at a rally for Hon Hai founder Terry Gou, former Miaoli Commissioner Hsu Yao-chang called out, “Down with the KMT.” He later claimed to have misspoken, but even so, his case was taken up by the party’s discipline committee. Early Tuesday morning, Hsu announced on social media that he was quitting the KMT.

In his social media post, he complained that the KMT’s presidential candidate, Hou Yu-ih, had committed four major sins. They include not participating in Han Kuo-yu’s presidential campaign in 2020 and taking advantage of the party’s power without making contributions. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Hsu piled on more criticism.

Hsu Yao-chang
Former Miaoli commissioner
During the election season, you didn’t help anyone. But now that you’re running for election, you expect everyone to help you. Does that make any sense? The KMT really needs to reflect and learn. Just look at the DPP. They’ve been with Lai Ching-te from the very beginning. But our “pan-blue coalition” is a joke.

Chung Tung-chin
Miaoli commissioner
I’m a bit pained and I find it a bit regrettable. Hsu Yao-chang inherited so much debt in office he couldn’t even pay salaries. I saw his hard work and exhaustion. The situation gradually improved after President Tsai Ing-wen took office and the central government provided financial assistance.

Hsu previously served as mayor of Toufen, a Miaoli lawmaker, and Miaoli commissioner. He was once a member of the People First Party. After stepping down as commissioner, he planned to run in the KMT’s legislative primaries. But now that he’s left the party, could he be planning to run against the KMT?

Eric Chu
KMT chair
I believe he won’t. The two legislative seats for Miaoli are quite stable. Everyone is friends with each other, old friends. I’m sad to see Hsu leaving the party. It is rather regrettable. But when one remains focused on oneself, it’s impossible to address the big picture.

Hsu Yao-chang
Former Miaoli commissioner
I might consider running if the current commissioner wants me to do so. I might if the situation forces me to run. With how things are now, nothing is set in stone.

If circumstances force it, he could become another headache for the KMT. Having retired less than a year ago, Hsu still retains strong local support and influence, making him a variable to watch in the 2024 elections.

徐耀昌退國民黨千字文批侯"冷眼旁觀不肯付出"

2023-08-22

前苗栗縣長徐耀昌日前出席郭台銘造勢兩度喊出下架國民黨，引來考紀會究責。凌晨他發文宣布退出國民黨，更列四大罪重批侯友宜，發文後出面他再度抨擊侯友宜，不去幫別人忙，要選舉卻要別人幫忙，天底下有這樣的事嗎？對於外界好奇是否捲土重來參戰立委，他沒把話說死，回應逼急了時事所趨，沒有什麼絕對的。

日前合體鴻海創辦人郭台銘造勢，前苗栗縣長徐耀昌喊下架國民黨，儘管事後說是口誤，還是被黨內送考紀會處理，22號深夜在臉書發文宣布退出國民黨。

並列出侯友宜4大罪，包括在韓國瑜選總統時冷眼旁觀，竊取黨的權力卻不肯付出分毫。今天出面時，他再度重批侯友宜。

[[前苗栗縣長徐耀昌]]
“(選舉時)你不去幫人家的忙，而你在選舉的時候，卻要大家來幫你的忙，天底下有這樣的事嗎。國民黨真的要痛定思痛，你看看人家的民進黨，到今天為止始終如一的就是賴清德，而我們的泛藍，真的是笑話”

[[苗栗縣長鍾東錦]]
“是有一點心痛，有點遺憾，(徐耀昌)上來負債那麼多，薪水發不出來，我看到他的疲憊跟辛勞，是小英總統上任以後，財政中央的協助，有漸漸的改善”

徐耀昌一路從頭份鎮長、立委到縣長，中間一度改披親民黨戰袍，即便卸任縣長，還是角逐立委初選，退黨下一步外界關注，是否捲土重來。

[[國民黨主席朱立倫]]
“我相信不會啦，苗栗兩席立委相對穩定，大家都是好朋友、老朋友，(徐耀昌退黨)我們也感到非常不捨跟遺憾，只有自我或小我，一定是沒辦法走出這個大局”

[[前苗栗縣長徐耀昌]]
“除非現任縣長，認為說有這個需要，我可能會考慮，但是如果逼急了我，時事所趨的話，沒有什麼絕對的”

朱立倫口中的老朋友喊話，別把他逼急了。卸任不到一年，還有地方人脈和影響力，也讓國民黨低迷的選情再添變數。

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In 2006, then-President Chen Shui-bian conferred the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon to Julio Palacios Sambrano, president of the Central American Parliament.

Two years later, then-President Ma Ying-jeou exchanged honors with the parliament’s president, in a showcase of warm relations. For decades Taiwan was a permanent observer in the Central American Parliament, also known as Parlacen. But following Nicaragua’s motion to eject Taiwan and bring in China, Taiwan has withdrawn from the parliament, effective Aug. 22.

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Nicaragua, under the dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega, willingly serves as China’s pawn. It incorrectly invoked UN Resolution 2758, manipulating the so-called “one China” principle. Disregarding regional democratic development and the welfare of the local people, it snatched away Taiwan’s rights and interests in the Central American Parliament. This highlights China’s deliberate efforts to undermine democracy in Central America and its ambitions to expand in the region.

In a sharply worded statement, Taiwan’s foreign ministry criticized Nicaragua’s representatives and other pro-China parliamentarians, for conspiring with China to expel Taiwan. It accused them of disregarding Taiwan’s long-term contributions to the body and to Central America’s development, and of dividing the parliamentary body. The ministry stated that, to defend national sovereignty and dignity, it was officially withdrawing from Parlacen. Established in Guatemala in 1991, Parlacen comprises six member states from Central America, plus Taiwan as an observer. The body’s mission is to promote political dialogue, inter-country collaboration, and democratic development in Central America. But after Taiwan lost ties with regional allies like Honduras, China found an opportunity to move in.

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China’s so-called National People’s Congress does not have a single representative who was elected by the people. How can such people represent China during the activities of the Central American Parliament? This only goes to show the absurdity of the parliament’s decision. We strongly condemn it. They excluded a democratic legislature and chose a rubber stamp that doesn’t know what an election is.

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With the tug of a banner, the Ministry of Environment makes its debut. President Tsai Ing-wen and Premier Chen Chien-jen attended the unveiling ceremony, marking a milestone for environmental protection in Taiwan.

Tsai Ing-wen
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The inauguration of the Ministry of Environment not only reflects the government’s determination to promote relevant policies in line with international trends. It also reflects society’s higher expectations regarding environmental protection.

The new ministry is an upgrade from the Environmental Protection Administration. It includes four subordinate agencies and one institution: the Climate Change Administration, Resource Circulation Administration, Environmental Management Administration, Chemicals Administration, and National Environmental Research Academy.

Chen Chien-jen
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Environmental assessment work for the fourth LNG terminal has been delayed for many years. After taking my office, this project will be at the top of my agenda. I hope to expand the participation of citizens and environmental groups. I will also go to Keelung City to pay a call on Mayor George Hsieh.

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The ramp goes up at 9 a.m. before the Tai Hwa departs from Terminal No. 1 in Kaohsiung Port. Passengers onboard wave goodbye as the ferry leaves Kaohsiung for the last time. It’s scheduled for decommissioning on Wednesday.

Passenger
I can’t bear to say goodbye. It’s not because of the ship itself, but because of the spiritual connection I have with it.

For 34 years, the Tai Hwa has ferried passengers between Kaohsiung and Penghu. It’s brought Penghu locals home and carried them to work, becoming an indelible part of their memories. On the eve of its retirement, some former passengers flew into Kaohsiung to send it off.

Passenger
This is a very important moment for me. I worked in Penghu for five or six years. So I would often take the Friday night service to Penghu. The Tai Hwa is part of many of my memories, so I wanted to be on its last voyage.

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The journey lasted four to five hours. I would ask my parents for a bunch of NT$10 coins so I could play video games in the arcade.

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This watermelon looks like it’s under the wrong end of a telescope. You can place it neatly in the palm of your hand: unexpectedly cute.

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It’s a different taste, crunchy and sweet.

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When a small family eats this, the children will prefer it, and the adults will also find it a novelty. For bigger ones you can go more to high-end markets.

Here on the farm, unlike in other watermelon fields, the miniball is grown on trellises in a greenhouse. You can get three watermelons from one plant, and harvest another generation every 50 days or so. Each miniball weighs about 550 to 650 grams. They’re aimed at the high-end fruit market.

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On average, one about this size will fall in the NT$100 range, slightly bigger would be NT$150, and they’re quite popular with consumers. So we will gradually expand the area we’re growing them in.

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A series of quick songs plays without pause. These older adults are drenched in sweat, towels around necks, in this Monday to Friday class where local residents can train their muscles. The secretary-general of this older adults’ center is Han Yuehong, a native of China’s Anhui. It’s the third long-term older adults’ care center she’s established in New Taipei. She’s involved in everything from planning the classes and recruiting teachers to arranging the catering. Her payback is the health of the community, and the jolly family atmosphere.

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Han is no lone wolf. She brings many other immigrants along for the fun.

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The secretary-general also brings in other immigrant friends to come and join in the activities here. For example, we held a Vietnamese meal. They brought special things from Vietnam and invited the local older folks to come and try their food.

Han opened her first long-term care center in Zhonghe. She helped older people get dressed up in wedding dresses to celebrate the traditional holiday Double Ninth Festival. Han says that remembering their happy smiles on that day still warm her heart.

When she closed that first center, many of the center’s members wept. Han worked in the beauty industry when she was younger. She made the change to work in social care because of her father.

Han Yuehong
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One day I got a call from my sister and she said my dad might not be okay. That’s when I started to feel I couldn’t stand it. My dad’s influence made me begin to face the aging process. How I understand it is that I married into a family so far away, so I want to treat the older people in the community like my own parents.

Han’s life is now dedicated to the joy of service. Whether supporting older neighbors or other immigrants, she is known and trusted by many in the community.

This story was provided by the program "We Are Family"
Funded by New Immigrant Development Fund

2023-08-22