IN BRIEF (Page 2)

TAIWAN

KMT's Hung refuses to quit leadership race

The leadership election candidate from Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang party refused to quit on Tuesday despite rumors that the party planned to oust her as candidate. Known as xiao la jiao or "little hot pepper" for her straight-talking style, Hung Hsiu-chu is trailing behind opposition candidate Tsai Ing-wen in opinion polls. She vowed to continue in the face of mounting criticism although reports suggest she will be forced out. "I will stick with my original intentions and follow through my promise," Hung said at a news conference in Taipei.