The DPP is poised to have its first success on the diplomatic front since President Chen Shui-bian (
Hsiao Bi-khim (
She said there is a high chance the party will become a member because there has been very little objection from members of the executive committee.
The DPP has been an observer in the organization since 1993.
A global federation of liberal parties founded in Oxford in 1947, the group unites 84 political parties from 67 countries on six continents.
If the DPP obtains approval, it will become the third member party in Asia, following the Liberal Party of Sri Lanka and the Liberal Party of the Philippines.
The director noted the admission would be of tremendous significance for the DPP because it would become a world partner in promoting democracy, freedom and party politics.
Last year, President Chen was granted the Prize for Freedom by the association. But he was unable to receive the award in person after all 15 members of the EU refused to grant Chen a visa to attend the award ceremony.
First lady Wu Shu-chen (
Hsiao also said that in October the DPP will participate in a transatlantic dialogue meeting attended by members of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) and the European Liberal Democrats and Reformers.
Held in Seoul and to be presided over by South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, the meeting is scheduled to focus on issues concerning corruption fighting and government transparency.
Chen was invited to attend, but a party official said Chen would not be able to attend the meeting due to his hectic schedule. The party is still deciding who will attend the conference on Chen's behalf.
Founded in 1993 to promote peace and economic prosperity in the Asia Pacific region, CALD has eight party members. Taiwan will be the host country for its annual meeting next year.
In related news, DPP Legislator Trong Chai (
The conference, scheduled for Jan. 7, is being sponsored by the Taiwan-USA Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association, a body in which the senior DPP lawmaker serves as president.
Chai has said the conference will provide an opportunity for lawmakers from different countries to map out a practical agenda for preserving regional stability and to cultivate diplomatic connections.
The lawmaker said he seeks to invite more than 300 lawmakers from the US, Europe and Asia to join the meeting.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said it is closely monitoring developments in Venezuela, and would continue to cooperate with democratic allies and work together for regional and global security, stability, and prosperity. The remarks came after the US on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was later flown to New York along with his wife. The pair face US charges related to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated as terrorist organizations. Maduro has denied the allegations. The ministry said that it is closely monitoring the political and economic situation
Conflict with Taiwan could leave China with “massive economic disruption, catastrophic military losses, significant social unrest, and devastating sanctions,” a US think tank said in a report released on Monday. The German Marshall Fund released a report titled If China Attacks Taiwan: The Consequences for China of “Minor Conflict” and “Major War” Scenarios. The report details the “massive” economic, military, social and international costs to China in the event of a minor conflict or major war with Taiwan, estimating that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could sustain losses of more than half of its active-duty ground forces, including 100,000 troops. Understanding Chinese
UNRELENTING: China attempted cyberattacks on Taiwan’s critical infrastructure 2.63 million times per day last year, up from 1.23 million in 2023, the NSB said China’s cyberarmy has long engaged in cyberattacks against Taiwan’s critical infrastructure, employing diverse and evolving tactics, the National Security Bureau (NSB) said yesterday, adding that cyberattacks on critical energy infrastructure last year increased 10-fold compared with the previous year. The NSB yesterday released a report titled Analysis on China’s Cyber Threats to Taiwan’s Critical Infrastructure in 2025, outlining the number of cyberattacks, major tactics and hacker groups. Taiwan’s national intelligence community identified a large number of cybersecurity incidents last year, the bureau said in a statement. China’s cyberarmy last year launched an average of 2.63 million intrusion attempts per day targeting Taiwan’s critical
‘SLICING METHOD’: In the event of a blockade, the China Coast Guard would intercept Taiwanese ships while its navy would seek to deter foreign intervention China’s military drills around Taiwan this week signaled potential strategies to cut the nation off from energy supplies and foreign military assistance, a US think tank report said. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted what it called “Justice Mission 2025” exercises from Monday to Tuesday in five maritime zones and airspace around Taiwan, calling them a warning to “Taiwanese independence” forces. In a report released on Wednesday, the Institute for the Study of War said the exercises effectively simulated blocking shipping routes to major port cities, including Kaohsiung, Keelung and Hualien. Taiwan would be highly vulnerable under such a blockade, because it
RSS