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 HUMAN ERROR: After the incident, the Coast Guard Administration said it would obtain uncrewed aerial vehicles and vessels to boost its detection capacity Authorities would improve border control to prevent unlawful entry into Taiwan’s waters and safeguard national security, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after a Chinese man reached the nation’s coast on an inflatable boat, saying he “defected to freedom.” The man was found on a rubber boat when he was about to set foot on Taiwan at the estuary of Houkeng River (後坑溪) near Taiping Borough (太平) in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口), authorities said. The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) northern branch said it received a report at 6:30am yesterday morning from the New Taipei City Fire Department about a
IN BEIJING’S FAVOR: A China Coast Guard spokesperson said that the Chinese maritime police would continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters it claims The Philippines withdrew its coast guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that has recently been at the center of tensions with Beijing. BRP Teresa Magbanua “was compelled to return to port” from Sabina Shoal (Xianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙) due to bad weather, depleted supplies and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela said yesterday in a post on X. The Philippine vessel “will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission” after it has been resupplied and repaired, Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who heads the nation’s maritime council, said
REGIONAL STABILITY: Taipei thanked the Biden administration for authorizing its 16th sale of military goods and services to uphold Taiwan’s defense and safety The US Department of State has approved the sale of US$228 million of military goods and services to Taiwan, the US Department of Defense said on Monday. The state department “made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale” to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US for “return, repair and reshipment of spare parts and related equipment,” the defense department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a news release. Taiwan had requested the purchase of items and services which include the “return, repair and reshipment of classified and unclassified spare parts for aircraft and related equipment; US Government
More than 500 people on Saturday marched in New York in support of Taiwan’s entry to the UN, significantly more people than previous years. The march, coinciding with the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly, comes close on the heels of growing international discourse regarding the meaning of UN Resolution 2758. Resolution 2758, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1971, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the “only lawful representative of China.” It resulted in the Republic of China (ROC) losing its seat at the UN to the PRC. Taiwan has since been excluded from