Taiwanese disagree among themselves too much on the topic of unification for there to be any point discussing the issue with China in the near term, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday.
Chen also stressed that the Taiwanese public must approve any plan to unify the two sides.
"No single government, no single party, no single leader can make any decision on the future and direction of Taiwan," Chen said.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING
"Anything is possible, but whatever change and direction the future of Taiwan will take will have to be decided by the 23 million Taiwanese," he said.
Chen's language at his monthly press conference was significantly tougher than the conciliatory tone he has used toward China since his inauguration.
While not rejecting unification as a possibility for Taiwan, Chen spoke forcefully on the lack of democratic debate that has surrounded a concept often seen as anachronistic KMT ideology rather than a worthwhile national goal.
"Was the goal of national unification reached through free and democratic procedures? Do the majority of people recognize it? Have we discussed it thoroughly?" he asked.
In order to reach a national consensus on cross-strait policies, Chen said that he would accelerate and facilitate the operation of the cross-party task force, headed by Academia Sinica President Lee Yuan-tseh (
The president also yesterday downplayed the status of the National Unification Council (NUC,
Chen's reluctance to chair the NUC, a body he once described as being "as useful as an appendix," has been used by the political opposition to denigrate the president's skills as a cross-strait peacemaker.
"The public should not overemphasize the importance of the council and turn it into a forbidden totem," Chen told reporters in response to questions as to whether he would take up the chairmanship.
Local media have been pressing the president recently to clearly state whether he will accept the position as did his predecessor, former president Lee Teng-hui (
China has also been pressuring Chen on the issue. On Sunday, Chinese officials, speaking through state-run media, said Chen's hesitation was a sign that he "has not essentially changed his support for Taiwan independence."
Although Chen did not flatly reject the post, he said he would continue to consider the decision, even though "it was a fact that the president should chair the NUC according to Article II of the NUC's regulations."
Chen also said that not every advisory board should be chaired by the president himself. Academia Sinica President Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲) headed the cross-party task force for cross-strait relations and Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) heads a high-tech task force.
Chen has already hinted twice that he is inclined not to accept the post. In addition to yesterday's press conference, Chen said during his recent overseas trip that "another political heavyweight" could assume the post.
Chen also made reference to a recent poll that found that the majority of people preferred to maintain the status quo regarding Taiwan's future.
"Taiwan does not want to become a part of the other side of the Strait, even though China has kept asking Taiwan to accept the principle of `one country, two systems' (
Chen also said that China's shifting interpretation of the question of Taiwan had confused him since Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen (
He said Chinese officials have presented different versions of the "one China" policy to Taiwan's people and to the international community.
Chen yesterday repeatedly appealed to all political parties to put the interests of the nation first and to support the cross-strait task force.
When asked if he would meet with KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
Lien has reportedly been cool on the idea of having an "A-bian-Lien" meeting (
Returning from his 13-day visit to African and Latin American countries last week, the president yesterday concluded that his trip had not upset the current relationship across the Strait as some had predicted would be the case.
ROLLER-COASTER RIDE: More than five earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.4 to 5.5 on the Richter scale shook eastern Taiwan in rapid succession yesterday afternoon Back-to-back weather fronts are forecast to hit Taiwan this week, resulting in rain across the nation in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration said yesterday, as it also warned residents in mountainous regions to be wary of landslides and rockfalls. As the first front approached, sporadic rainfall began in central and northern parts of Taiwan yesterday, the agency said, adding that rain is forecast to intensify in those regions today, while brief showers would also affect other parts of the nation. A second weather system is forecast to arrive on Thursday, bringing additional rain to the whole nation until Sunday, it
LANDSLIDES POSSIBLE: The agency advised the public to avoid visiting mountainous regions due to more expected aftershocks and rainfall from a series of weather fronts A series of earthquakes over the past few days were likely aftershocks of the April 3 earthquake in Hualien County, with further aftershocks to be expected for up to a year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Based on the nation’s experience after the quake on Sept. 21, 1999, more aftershocks are possible over the next six months to a year, the agency said. A total of 103 earthquakes of magnitude 4 on the local magnitude scale or higher hit Hualien County from 5:08pm on Monday to 10:27am yesterday, with 27 of them exceeding magnitude 5. They included two, of magnitude
CONDITIONAL: The PRC imposes secret requirements that the funding it provides cannot be spent in states with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Emma Reilly said China has been bribing UN officials to obtain “special benefits” and to block funding from countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a former UN employee told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. At a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into “international relations within the multilateral system,” former Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) employee Emma Reilly said in a written statement that “Beijing paid bribes to the two successive Presidents of the [UN] General Assembly” during the two-year negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Another way China exercises influence within the UN Secretariat is
Taiwan’s first drag queen to compete on the internationally acclaimed RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅), was on Friday crowned the “Next Drag Superstar.” Dressed in a sparkling banana dress, Nymphia Wind swept onto the stage for the final, and stole the show. “Taiwan this is for you,” she said right after show host RuPaul announced her as the winner. “To those who feel like they don’t belong, just remember to live fearlessly and to live their truth,” she said on stage. One of the frontrunners for the past 15 episodes, the 28-year-old breezed through to the final after weeks of showcasing her unique