The 1992 directives that govern Taiwan's policy towards China may be modified soon, Chen Che-nan (
Since the Guidelines for National Unification (
"However, there is room for discussion on what modifications should be made," Chen said at the Presidential Office's weekly press conference yesterday, adding that members of the National Unification Council (NUC) would shortly discuss when further meetings should convene.
Chen also said that a date is to be set for the president to meet with KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
In the wake of the president's refusal last week to state clearly whether he would take up the chairmanship of the NUC, Chen Che-nan's remarks were once again widely discussed by opposition parties. The KMT legislative caucus said that modifications could only be made if they follow mainstream public opinion.
"If the majority of people think that the functions of the NUC are [currently] acceptable, no modifications should be made for the time being," said KMT Legislator Tseng Yung-chuan (
The president said in his May 20 inauguration speech that the NUC would not be abolished.
Many DPP members are squarely opposed to party members belonging to the NUC, saying that such membership would constitute a violation of the party's anti-unification principles.
People First Party legislative whip Chen Chen-sheng (
"The president is burdened by the DPP's platform which advocates Taiwan independence. If he modifies the [unification] guidelines at this crucial moment, unnecessary disputes may arise between the two sides of the Strait. The outcome could be devastating," Chen Chen-sheng said. Chen added that enhancing cross-strait interaction was the right thing to do to create a "win-win" situation.
The New Party, which holds true to the concept of "national unification," said that under no circumstances should the main spirit of the guidelines -- national unification -- be deleted. Convener of the New Party's legislative caucus Lai Shyh-bao (
Lai further indicated that it seemed to him that the functions of the cross-party task force were more flexible than those of the NUC, the goals of which are to help the government devise a national unification framework, since no preconditions were made prior to its establishment.
Many left-wing DPP supporters are disgruntled with the president over his dealings with the NUC and with the Guidelines for National Unification. The party refused to comment yesterday but is expected to discuss the guidelines and whether the president should chair the council himself at the "Forum for Party and Political Negotiation" which is scheduled to begin tomorrow.
NO-LIMITS PARTNERSHIP: ‘The bottom line’ is that if the US were to have a conflict with China or Russia it would likely open up a second front with the other, a US senator said Beijing and Moscow could cooperate in a conflict over Taiwan, the top US intelligence chief told the US Senate this week. “We see China and Russia, for the first time, exercising together in relation to Taiwan and recognizing that this is a place where China definitely wants Russia to be working with them, and we see no reason why they wouldn’t,” US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told a US Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing on Thursday. US Senator Mike Rounds asked Haines about such a potential scenario. He also asked US Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse
INSPIRING: Taiwan has been a model in the Asia-Pacific region with its democratic transition, free and fair elections and open society, the vice president-elect said Taiwan can play a leadership role in the Asia-Pacific region, vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) told a forum in Taipei yesterday, highlighting the nation’s resilience in the face of geopolitical challenges. “Not only can Taiwan help, but Taiwan can lead ... not only can Taiwan play a leadership role, but Taiwan’s leadership is important to the world,” Hsiao told the annual forum hosted by the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation think tank. Hsiao thanked Taiwan’s international friends for their long-term support, citing the example of US President Joe Biden last month signing into law a bill to provide aid to Taiwan,
China’s intrusive and territorial claims in the Indo-Pacific region are “illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive,” new US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo said on Friday, adding that he would continue working with allies and partners to keep the area free and open. Paparo made the remarks at a change-of-command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, where he took over the command from Admiral John Aquilino. “Our world faces a complex problem set in the troubling actions of the People’s Republic of China [PRC] and its rapid buildup of forces. We must be ready to answer the PRC’s increasingly intrusive and
STATE OF THE NATION: The legislature should invite the president to deliver an address every year, the TPP said, adding that Lai should also have to answer legislators’ questions The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday proposed inviting president-elect William Lai (賴清德) to make a historic first state of the nation address at the legislature following his inauguration on May 20. Lai is expected to face many domestic and international challenges, and should clarify his intended policies with the public’s representatives, KMT caucus secretary-general Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷) said when making the proposal at a meeting of the legislature’s Procedure Committee. The committee voted to add the item to the agenda for Friday, along with another similar proposal put forward by the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). The invitation is in line with Article 15-2