The original James Bond, veteran actor Sean Connery, is rumored to be coming to Taiwan to join the "228 Hand-in-Hand Rally" slated to take place on Feb. 28 as a symbol of determination and unity of the people of Taiwan in protecting Taiwan from China's missile threats, the organizer of the event said yesterday.
"The chances are good that Sean Connery will come to Taiwan to join the `228 Hand-in-Hand Rally' if everything goes as scheduled," Peter Wang (
Wang yesterday revealed that the Presidential Office was behind the invitation to Connery, who met President Chen Shui-bian (
"The idea of inviting Sean Connery to visit Taiwan started at that time," Wang said.
Wang noted that Connery is expected to announce his itinerary at a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 26 and will appear on stage in front of the Presidential Office at 2:28pm on Feb. 28.
However, spokesman for the DPP's campaign headquarters Wu Nai-jen (
"There are many important guests the organizer is trying to invite to participate in this activity, but we are not definite at this point who the guests are and what kind of promises have been made," Wu said.
During the centennial celebration in Panama last November, Connery took the initiative in approaching Chen by asking an unspecified ambassador to Panama to arrange a meeting with Chen.
In their meeting, Connery was quoted as having said that he was a fan of the president. For his part, Chen said he was a loyal Sean Connery fan.
"You have numerous fans in Taiwan and are welcome to visit any time," Chen told Connery, who starred as the charismatic spy 007 in several James Bond films, including Dr. No (1962), Goldfinger (1964) and Diamonds Are Forever (1971).
The chain will take place on 228 Memorial Day, with people from around the country joining hands to form a colossal human chain 500km long along the west coast and shouting "Taiwan yes, China no!" at 2:28pm.
The 228 Memorial Day is in memory of the victims killed during an uprising on Feb. 28, 1947 by native Taiwanese to protest against the corrupt Chinese Nationlist Party regime.
Connery is known for his passionate support of Scotland's independence and has publicly advocated its seperation from England, although he was knighted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth in 2000.
Though Connery is a native of Scotland and bears a tattoo proclaiming "Scotland Forever," he does not reside there. He had once publicly said in March last year that he believes Scotland will one day become independent and only then will he move back to Scotland with his wife.
LONG FLIGHT: The jets would be flown by US pilots, with Taiwanese copilots in the two-seat F-16D variant to help familiarize them with the aircraft, the source said The US is expected to fly 10 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 70/72 jets to Taiwan over the coming months to fulfill a long-awaited order of 66 aircraft, a defense official said yesterday. Word that the first batch of the jets would be delivered soon was welcome news to Taiwan, which has become concerned about delays in the delivery of US arms amid rising military tensions with China. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the initial tranche of the nation’s F-16s are rolling off assembly lines in the US and would be flown under their own power to Taiwan by way
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION: The UK would continue to reinforce ties with Taiwan ‘in a wide range of areas’ as a part of a ‘strong unofficial relationship,’ a paper said The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations. Lammy replied “yes” to both questions. The
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
MISSION: The Indo-Pacific region is ‘the priority theater,’ where the task of deterrence extends across the entire region, including Taiwan, the US Pacific Fleet commander said The US Navy’s “mission of deterrence” in the Indo-Pacific theater applies to Taiwan, Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen Koehler told the South China Sea Conference on Tuesday. The conference, organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), is an international platform for senior officials and experts from countries with security interests in the region. “The Pacific Fleet’s mission is to deter aggression across the Western Pacific, together with our allies and partners, and to prevail in combat if necessary, Koehler said in the event’s keynote speech. “That mission of deterrence applies regionwide — including the South China Sea and Taiwan,” he
RSS