Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday proposed to promulgate an "anti-annexation law" in a bid to counter China's intended "anti-secession" legislation.
According to the draft bill, any move that could disturb Taiwan's status quo has to be decided by Taiwan's 23 million people through a vote, DPP Legislator Trong Tsai (蔡同榮) said, and the spirit of anti-annexation must be enshrined in the long-discussed new constitution that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has promoted.
"Legislation is not a good way to counter China. But since China is making a move, Taiwan is forced to respond. Before a more efficient way is found, Taiwan should make the whole world understand Taiwan's viewpoint on China's intended annexation through making a law," DPP Legislator Lee Ming-hsien (
Tsai also proposed to work with US congressmen to revise the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA).
"The revised TRA should stipulate that the US will explore all means to help defend Taiwan's sovereign and territorial integrity if Taiwan's status quo is endangered without a legal process of referendum by Taiwan's 23 million people," Tsai said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) will launch an international publicity drive against China's plan to introduce an anti-secession law targeting Taiwan, ministry spokes-person Michel Lu (呂慶龍) said yesterday.
Lu said the ministry will call the international community's attention to Beijing's move, which he said will severely upset peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Lu said the law that Beijing proposed is obviously aimed at building a legal basis for China's plans to invade Taiwan, and he urged the international community to step in to stop the plot against the nation.
Taiwan yesterday denied Chinese allegations that its military was behind a cyberattack on a technology company in Guangzhou, after city authorities issued warrants for 20 suspects. The Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau earlier yesterday issued warrants for 20 people it identified as members of the Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command (ICEFCOM). The bureau alleged they were behind a May 20 cyberattack targeting the backend system of a self-service facility at the company. “ICEFCOM, under Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, directed the illegal attack,” the warrant says. The bureau placed a bounty of 10,000 yuan (US$1,392) on each of the 20 people named in
The High Court yesterday found a New Taipei City woman guilty of charges related to helping Beijing secure surrender agreements from military service members. Lee Huei-hsin (李慧馨) was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison for breaching the National Security Act (國家安全法), making illegal compacts with government employees and bribery, the court said. The verdict is final. Lee, the manager of a temple in the city’s Lujhou District (蘆洲), was accused of arranging for eight service members to make surrender pledges to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in exchange for money, the court said. The pledges, which required them to provide identification
Nine retired generals from Taiwan, Japan and the US have been invited to participate in a tabletop exercise hosted by the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation tomorrow and Wednesday that simulates a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan in 2030, the foundation said yesterday. The five retired Taiwanese generals would include retired admiral Lee Hsi-min (李喜明), joined by retired US Navy admiral Michael Mullen and former chief of staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces general Shigeru Iwasaki, it said. The simulation aims to offer strategic insights into regional security and peace in the Taiwan Strait, it added. Foundation chair Huang Huang-hsiung
’DISTORTION’: Beijing’s assertion that the US agreed with its position on Taiwan is a recurring tactic it uses to falsely reinforce its sovereignty claims, MOFA said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said Chinese state media deliberately distorted Taiwan’s sovereign status, following reports that US President Donald Trump agreed to uphold the “one China” policy in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平). During the more than one-hour-long call, Xi urged Trump to retreat from trade measures that roiled the global economy and cautioned him against threatening steps on Taiwan, a Chinese government summary of the call said. China’s official Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying that the US should handle the Taiwan issue cautiously and avoid the two countries being drawn into dangerous
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