In his New Year's address yesterday, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) stressed the need for reconciliation and dialogue as he called for both the ruling and opposition parties to take the initial step toward reconciliation and cooperation needed to power the nation toward reinvigo-rating the economy and upgrading its national competitiveness.
"Today is the beginning of a new year; I would like to hereby advocate openly that Taiwan must head toward a new era of consultation and dialogue," Chen said.
"Taiwan does not need bifurcation between the pan-blue and pan-green camps, nor does it need ongoing confrontation between the governing and opposition parties," he said, adding that "the governing and opposition parties each have their own roles to play. Fair competition, cooperation rather than confrontation, checks and bal-ances, and solidarity rather than infighting -- these are now the ardent expectations of the people of Taiwan."
Stating that "politics is an art of possibilities," Chen, noting that according to the Constitution the president should appoint a new premier and form a new Cabinet after the old one resigns, said he will listen attentively to the voice of the people and to the opinions of the governing and opposition parties in the process of making his decision.
"As long as it will benefit the stability of domestic politics, the welfare of the people, harmony among ethnic groups and cross-strait peace, anything can be open to reconciliation or cooperation between the governing and opposition parties," he said. Chen said that he expected to see a win-win situation in future relations between the governing and opposition parties, as well as the interaction between the new legislature and Cabinet.
In order to create a new and stable environment based on rational consultation and sincere dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties, Chen suggested the two sides could start with areas on which consensus had already been reached. These included the "10 priority bills" and "nine major laws" which the ruling and the opposition parties had showcased to their constituencies before last year's Dec. 11 legislative elections.
"We believe that these policy and legislative proposals would make good starting points for the engagement of rational consultation and sincere dialogue among political parties," Chen said.
In a bid to realize this goal, Chen expressed his willingness to invite leaders from both the ruling and opposition parties, as well as representatives of the executive and legislative branches of government, to meet as soon as possible to negotiate these legislations.
On the cross-strait front, Chen condemned Beijing's attempts to enact an anti-secession law, calling it an effort to seek justification for a military invasion of Taiwan. The move therefore constituted a unilateral change of the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and posed the greatest threat to regional stability and world peace, Chen said.
"In the past four years, we have on many occasions extended olive branches to China ? Despite our efforts, China remains reluctant to renounce its military intimidation of Taiwan," Chen said, and warmed "the Chinese authority not to underestimate the will of the Tai-wanese people to defend the sovereignty, security and dignity of the Republic of China."
With that said, Chen expressed gratitude to the US, Japan and other allies for supporting Taiwan and showing concern about peace in the Taiwan Strait.
Prior to delivering his New Year's address at the Presidential Office building, Chen, along with Vice President Annette Lu (
Despite the chilly weather, a massive crowd showed up for the event, many donning a white scarf -- a thoughtful small gift prepared by the event-organizers for these early birds.
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was the only opposition politician seen at the ceremony yesterday.
NEXT GENERATION: The four plants in the Central Taiwan Science Park, designated Fab 25, would consist of four 1.4-nanometer wafer manufacturing plants, TSMC said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) plans to begin construction of four new plants later this year, with the aim to officially launch production of 2-nanometer semiconductor wafers by late 2028, Central Taiwan Science Park Bureau director-general Hsu Maw-shin (許茂新) said. Hsu made the announcement at an event on Friday evening celebrating the Central Taiwan Science Park’s 22nd anniversary. The second phase of the park’s expansion would commence with the initial construction of water detention ponds and other structures aimed at soil and water conservation, Hsu said. TSMC has officially leased the land, with the Central Taiwan Science Park having handed over the
The Philippines is working behind the scenes to enhance its defensive cooperation with Taiwan, the Washington Post said in a report published on Monday. “It would be hiding from the obvious to say that Taiwan’s security will not affect us,” Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro Jr told the paper in an interview on Thursday last week. Although there has been no formal change to the Philippines’ diplomatic stance on recognizing Taiwan, Manila is increasingly concerned about Chinese encroachment in the South China Sea, the report said. The number of Chinese vessels in the seas around the Philippines, as well as Chinese
AUKUS: The Australian Ambassador to the US said his country is working with the Pentagon and he is confident that submarine issues will be resolved Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd on Friday said that if Taiwan were to fall to China’s occupation, it would unleash China’s military capacities and capabilities more broadly. He also said his country is working with the Pentagon on the US Department of Defense’s review of the AUKUS submarine project and is confident that all issues raised will be resolved. Rudd, who served as Australian prime minister from 2007 to 2010 and for three months in 2013, made the remarks at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado and stressed the longstanding US-Australia alliance and his close relationship with the US Undersecretary
‘WORLD WAR III’: Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said the aid would inflame tensions, but her amendment was rejected 421 votes against six The US House of Representatives on Friday passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal 2026, which includes US$500 million for Taiwan. The bill, which totals US$831.5 billion in discretionary spending, passed in a 221-209 vote. According to the bill, the funds for Taiwan would be administered by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency and would remain available through Sept. 30, 2027, for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative. The legislation authorizes the US Secretary of Defense, with the agreement of the US Secretary of State, to use the funds to assist Taiwan in procuring defense articles and services, and military training. Republican Representative