Former Changhua City Mayor Chiu Chien-fu Leaves DPP to Run for County Magistrate

(Central News Agency, Taipei, June 10) Former Changhua City Mayor Chiu Chien-fu yesterday submitted his resignation from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) at the DPP's Changhua County headquarters, announcing he would run for Changhua County Magistrate as an independent. DPP spokesperson Lin Chu-yin stated today that the DPP has party regulations regarding joining or leaving the party; the DPP does not want to 'sadden friends and gladden enemies' and hopes to unite for a better future.

The DPP held a press conference today to announce its candidate for Hsinchu County Magistrate. Lin Chu-yin made the above remarks while responding to media questions at the press conference.

Regarding KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-wen's visit to the US, Lin stated that the KMT has engaged in significant 'domestic propaganda' regarding this visit. She questioned whether Cheng truly met with important figures and whether she spoke out for Taiwan's diplomacy and national defense, pointing to recent legislative proposals as evidence. Lin criticized the KMT for previously deleting funding for drones from the special national defense budget and for blocking the DPP's proposed Special Act for the Drone Industry.

She criticized the KMT for, on one hand, sending its chairperson abroad for exchanges, while on the other hand, weakening Taiwan's national defense autonomy and its ability to speak out internationally, calling it a classic case of 'saying one thing and doing another.' (Editor: Zhai Sijia) 1150610