Academics mobilize in support of DPP presidential ticket

Taipei, Dec. 19 (CNA) Dozens of Taiwanese scholars and researchers gathered together at the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) headquarters in Taipei on Tuesday in a show of support for the party's presidential candidate Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴).

Speaking at the rally, Wu Ming-chang (吳明昌), a professor of food science at the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, said that combined with those in attendance, more than 2,000 Taiwanese academics based in the country or overseas had signed up for an informal group to champion the DPP ticket.

Wu, the group's "convenor," said that he hoped the endorsement would motivate independent voters and young scholars in Taiwan to support the Lai-Hsiao ticket.

According to Wu, the group received backing in its founding phase from 18 academicians from Academia Sinica -- Taiwan's top research institute -- as well as 18 school principals.

He noted that 1,880 academics who had signed up for the group were currently based in Taiwan, 136 in North America, and the rest in Europe and the Asia-Pacific.

Addressing the gathering, Academia Sinica Academician Chou Chang-hung (周昌弘) praised both Lai and Hsiao as having the most extensive experience in government compared to their opponents from the main opposition Kuomintang and the smaller Taiwan People's Party.

In addition, the duo has never caved in to "strong power" but instead exhibited a determination to fight for Taiwan's "survival and prosperity," said Chou, who also teaches at National Taiwan University.

Speaking in the same vein, Wu Rwei-ren (吳叡人), an associate research fellow at Academia Sinica's Institute of Taiwan History, said Taiwanese leaders should be equipped with qualities such as loyalty to the nation, integrity and professionalism.

Among all those running in the presidential race, only the DPP ticket has matched those qualities and, therefore, they are most competent to lead the country amid external threats from authoritarian expansion and internal division in society, he added.

Meanwhile, Lai, the current vice president, said he and Hsiao shared "a strong sense of mission" to push for steady progress in Taiwan based on the foundation built over the past eight years by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), whose second four-year term will end in 2024.

Lai added that his government would be committed to safeguarding Taiwan's sovereignty, consolidating democracy, and promoting peace and prosperity.

At a separate rally in Taipei earlier the same day, numerous prominent figures working in the cultural sector also pledged their support for Lai in the January election, including singer-songwriter Chen Ming-chang (陳明章), architect Huang Sheng-yuan (黃聲遠), and graphic designer Aaron Nieh (聶永真).