Any person hoping to join a proposed alliance for national stability or participate in a summit of national leaders must first reject "one China, two systems" and the "one China" principle, Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟), secretary-general to the president, said yesterday.
Chen made the comments yesterday when delivering a speech at a closed-door seminar held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday.
Chen said that Beijing sees China and Taiwan as Siamese twins rather than the fraternal twins that they are. "China and Taiwan are like twins, but the Beijing authority wants to turn them into conjoined twins," Chen said. "I cannot see any good this would do Taiwan."
Chen said the twins have both grown up and have their own families; there's no reason why they must be conjoined simply because they share the same background.
In his closed-door address, Chen reportedly had harsh criticism for the opposition parties.
Chen said it wasn't difficult to accept unification with China, but what needs to be considered is the development of Taiwan after unity. Prior to unification, China will offer Taiwan many favorable terms, but it's far from certain whether these promises will be honored once unification is achieved.
He said Chinese officials were totalitarian in nature and many Chinese scholars and people he has met are reluctant to promote human rights and democracy.
"China is a hopeless country, and I don't want this kind of country to represent me in the future," he said.
Chen's remarks yesterday were regarded as a response to KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
The PFP later yesterday criticized Chen Shih-meng for his pro-independence stance, saying President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) shouldn't allow an ideologue to be involved with cross-strait affairs.
"President Chen declared during his inauguration speech that he will never abolish the National Reunification Council," PFP legislative caucus leader Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄) said. "`One China' is the main spirit of the National Reunification Guidelines. Therefore, Chen Shih-meng's remarks reflect the fact that there are many contradictions among DPP members concerning cross-strait policy."
The government is aiming to recruit 1,096 foreign English teachers and teaching assistants this year, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. The foreign teachers would work closely with elementary and junior-high instructors to create and teach courses, ministry official Tsai Yi-ching (蔡宜靜) said. Together, they would create an immersive language environment, helping to motivate students while enhancing the skills of local teachers, she said. The ministry has since 2021 been recruiting foreign teachers through the Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program, which offers placement, salary, housing and other benefits to eligible foreign teachers. Two centers serving northern and southern Taiwan assist in recruiting and training
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