The nation's top cross-strait policymaking body proposed new measures for the dissolution of misunderstandings, saying both governments should station an academic on the other side of the Taiwan Strait to serve as a conduit for communication.
"This proposal has potential because it is not politically charged and both academic circles are already familiar with each other. However, if China is unwilling to see this through, it will be hard for us to implement measures," Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Joseph Wu (
"President Chen Shui-bian [陳水扁] called for the exchange of envoys between Taiwan and China on Feb. 3, but such a move would be difficult without a major breakthrough in cross-strait ties," Wu said, pointing out that stationing an academic representative in China was more feasible.
Dubbed the "Academic Confidence Building Measures," the proposal recommends that China and Taiwan swap government-appointed scholars for indefinite periods of time. Wu said authorities can increase the number of appointed academics after a designated amount of time, suggesting two to three years as a good time-frame.
According to Wu, the scholars would have to be recognized by both governments, be allowed to conduct visits for research purposes and be guaranteed access to public academic conferences. He also said that the appointed academics should be given a certain amount of diplomatic treatment.
Wu shared his recommendation yesterday with a group of high-level officials, including National Security Council Secretary-General Chiou I-jen (
"Cross-strait communication is too disorderly right now and authorities are not clear whether remarks made by academics can be viewed as representative of the government's stance. Appointing an academic can therefore prevent misunderstandings and miscommunications. It would simplify communication," Wu said.
"This idea came about because cross-strait ties are often burdened by a lot of misinterpretation. Academics can serve as a means of communication, a bridge," Wu said. He pointed out that while the appointed academic would be primarily engaged in research, he or she would also be available to relay communication on the government's behalf.
According to a seven-point outline of Wu's academic confidence-building measures, the academic would be available to receive and relay invitations to international conferences hosted by either country. He also said that the lines of communication created by the appointed academic would be used to put a halt to remarks made by officials in both nations that were particularly offensive to the other side.
Wu said that China had not imposed an absolute prohibition on cross-strait academic exchanges. He said that while China had blocked Chinese academics from flocking to Taiwan after the March 20 presidential election, academic exchange had picked up again.
Wu also suggested yesterday that cooperative ties be established between the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and its counterpart in Japan to research and make suggestions regarding the handling of political reform in China. He said that Taiwan and Japan were the most important democracies in the region and a concerted effort in imparting concrete suggestions to Chinese authorities would benefit regional stability.
RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
CHINA REACTS: The patrol and reconnaissance plane ‘transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,’ the 7th Fleet said, while Taipei said it saw nothing unusual The US 7th Fleet yesterday said that a US Navy P-8A Poseidon flew through the Taiwan Strait, a day after US and Chinese defense heads held their first talks since November 2022 in an effort to reduce regional tensions. The patrol and reconnaissance plane “transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,” the 7th Fleet said in a news release. “By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations.” In a separate statement, the Ministry of National Defense said that it monitored nearby waters and airspace as the aircraft
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source