The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday that they hoped to sign an agreement on Chinese investment in the nation and at least three more accords during the third round of cross-strait talks, scheduled to take place in the first half of this year.
MAC Deputy Minister Liu Te-shun (劉德勳) yesterday said that the council had authorized the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) to negotiate three more issues in addition to joint efforts to combat crime: regular scheduled flights, a memorandum of understanding on a financial supervisory mechanism and Chinese investment in Taiwan.
The authorization came just a day after SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤) said on Wednesday that the MAC had so far only authorized the foundation to negotiate one issue listed on the agenda for a third round of cross-strait talks. There were six categories and 19 issues on the planned agenda.
Chiang said although the MAC had agreed to let the SEF negotiate on efforts to combat crime, the council had yet to specify the content of the negotiations or approve a team of negotiators.
Liu yesterday said that the council’s decision to authorize the SEF to negotiate on three more issues had nothing to do with what Chiang had said on Wednesday. He said he hoped the MAC and SEF could begin negotiations after the Lunar New Year holidays.
Different teams of negotiators would be put together in accordance with the nature of the issues to be negotiated, Liu said, adding that most of them would be government officials.
While Chinese investment was not placed on the planned agenda, MAC Chairwoman Lai Shin-yuan (賴幸媛) said yesterday that was because Beijing had only recently agreed to discuss the issue.
“Bilateral talks must not be just wishful thinking,” Lai said. “Both sides must be willing and ready to talk.”
When asked for details on the Chinese investment proposal, Lai said both sides had recently agreed on the topic, but that there had been no decisions made on the scope. The government has expressed an interest in allowing Chinese investment in infrastructure projects and the real estate market.
Lai dismissed criticism that the council had been too slow in authorizing the SEF to negotiate, saying it required careful evaluation before negotiations could take place.
Meanwhile, Liu said yesterday that so far 12 Taiwanese firms have asked for a total of NT$700 million (US$21 million) in compensation from firms Duqing (都慶) and the now-bankrupt Sanlu (三鹿).
Duqing is a Chinese supplier of non-dairy creamer, whose three-in-one drink powders were recalled after tests showed they contained melamine. Sanlu is a Chinese dairy firm that also sold melamine-contaminated milk powder that killed at least six babies and made 290,000 ill.
Lai said most of the compensation requests were made against Duqing.
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday expressed “grave concerns” after Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (黃循財) reiterated the city-state’s opposition to “Taiwanese independence” during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang (李強). In Singapore on Saturday, Wong and Li discussed cross-strait developments, the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “Prime Minister Wong reiterated that Singapore has a clear and consistent ‘one China’ policy and is opposed to Taiwan independence,” it said. MOFA responded that it is an objective fact and a common understanding shared by many that the Republic of China (ROC) is an independent, sovereign nation, with world-leading
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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