Han Kuo-yu takes a three-month leave of absence for his presidential campaign starting Oct. 16. The pan-blue camp is calling on President Tsai Ing-wen to do the same. In response, Tsai condemned the pan-blue camp and said the idea was absurd because she is the core of the nation. She also said Han has been Kaohsiung City mayor for less than a year and it is wrong for him to run for president. Former Premier William Lai, meanwhile, took part in a campaign rally for Tsai in the US and called on everyone to support Tsai. Lai declined to answer questions on the possibility of him being Tsai's running mate.


While attending the opening ceremony of a tech conference, President Tsai Ing-wen was asked about the pan-blue camp's calls for her to follow Kaohsiung City Mayor Han Kuo-yu in taking a leave of absence for her presidential campaign. Tsai declared the suggestion "absurd."

(For him to take a three-month leave of absence) is wrong, and they are now even calling on the sitting president to do the same? It's absurd. The president is the operational core of the nation. If the president were to take a three-month leave of absence, the nation would grind to a complete halt.

Han has invited Tsai to take part in a debate on cross-strait relations multiple times, but she has not taken him up on his offer. On the 15th, Han compared cross-strait and diplomatic relations to the lamp and ring in "Aladdin." Tsai blasted Han for an "inappropriate" metaphor, saying cross-strait issues are very serious.

I think the cross-strait issue is an extremely serious issue. This genie and lamp -- I don't think this is a good metaphor. The thing we most want to hear him say is that if he is elected president, he will be committed to protecting the nation's sovereignty to protect our free and democratic lifestyle.

Former Premier William Lai is regarded as a likely running mate for Tsai. On the 16th, Lai attended a campaign rally for Tsai in the US. During his speech, he discussed the Democratic Progressive Party's presidential primary and the broadsides he and Tsai fired at each other. Lai would not say if he could be Tsai's running mate, but called on everyone to vote for Tsai.

Let the Democratic Progressive Party government's vitality be reborn. Let there be a "President Tsai Ing-wen 2.0." It was a democratic inevitability that I should come to the US to rally for her. It was also my responsibility. Don't you think so? It has absolutely nothing to do with whether I team up with her or any potential appointments.

Tsai has refused comment on her selection of running mate, resorting to the old line that she would pick the best person at the best time. As for the International Monetary Fund lowering its GDP growth rate forecast for Taiwan to 2 percent, Tsai said Taiwan continues to grow at a steady rate and is outperforming Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong.



出席台北電子科技展開幕典禮，總統蔡英文拚國政，面對對手韓國瑜16號起請假三個月拚選戰，藍營喊出蔡英文也應比照辦理，不過也被蔡總統狠狠打臉，痛批荒謬。

總統 蔡英文表示：「（請假三個月)其實就是一件錯的事情，現在還要叫現任總統請假，更是荒謬，總統是一個國家運作的核心，如果總統請三個月假的話，那這個國家將會面臨一個停頓的狀態。」

至於韓國瑜力邀蔡英文辯論兩岸議題，15號還開直播以阿拉丁神話，用神燈精靈和戒指精靈，來比喻兩岸和外交現況，蔡英文認為兩岸議題很嚴肅，再批韓國瑜比喻失當。

總統 蔡英文表示：「我覺得兩岸議題，還是一個非常嚴肅的議題，這個神燈跟精靈，我不覺得這是一個好的比喻，我們最期待他講的一句話就是說，他如果做總統的話，他們有決心來保衛國家的主權，來保衛我們民主自由的生活方式。」

蔡英文國內砲打對手，傳聞中的副手人選前行政院長賴清德，則赴美參加挺蔡英文連任海外造勢，發表演說，提到黨內初選，蔡賴在批評中求進步，賴清德不直說蔡賴配不配，倒是全力支持蔡英文連任。

前行政院長 賴清德表示：「讓民進黨的政府活力再生，讓小英變成2.0，我會來美國助選，這是民主的必然，也是責任所在，你說是不是，和搭不搭配和任何職務，完完全全沒有關係。」

蔡英文對副手人選，還是老話一句，會在最佳時間提出最佳組合。對於國際貨幣基金下修台灣經濟成長率至2.0%，蔡英文強調，台灣仍穩定成長，尤其台商回台投資，仍是亞洲四小龍表現最強。