US and Chinese officials meeting yesterday said they hoped for better military relations and a peaceful settlement to disputes over the future of Taiwan.
Washington hopes for "real progress" on a wide range of military issues, US Deputy UnderSecretary of Defense for the Asia-Pacific Richard Lawless told his Chinese counterpart Major General Zhang Bangdong (張邦東) before they began two days of closed door talks.
"This meeting represents the importance both sides have attached to their military relations," said Tu Qiming (
A US embassy spokeswoman said the talks yesterday and today would center on regional security issues including those related to Taiwan and North Korea.
Washington regards military ties with Beijing as a key part of their relations. Contacts were cut off following the collision of a US Navy surveillance plane with a Chinese fighter jet in 2001 but have warmed over the past two years. Relations have also been strained by US support for Taiwan.
During talks yesterday, the two sides expressed "hope that the Taiwan issue can be peacefully resolved," Tu said.
China plans to pass an anti-secession legislation in March, a law that Taiwan fears could be a pretext for an attack.
Tu said the two sides did not discuss the EU's proposed plan to lift a 15-year arms embargo against China this year.
"I do not anticipate it coming up during this round of talks," he added.
Washington opposes lifting the ban for fear that European arms could be used against US forces should they be called upon to defend Taiwan.
China's official Xinhua News Agency said yesterday's meeting was the first of its kind between the two sides.
Lawless was scheduled to meet today with Xiong Guangkai (熊光楷), deputy chief of general staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
The security talks in Beijing follow a visit to Washington last October by General Liang Guanglie (梁光烈), chairman of the general staff of the PLA. He was told by then-US secretary of state Colin Powell that the US was committed to defend Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act.
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
AMENDMENT: Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of high-temperature days, affecting economic productivity and public health, experts said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) is considering amending the Meteorological Act (氣象法) to classify “high temperatures” as “hazardous weather,” providing a legal basis for work or school closures due to extreme heat. CWA Administrator Lu Kuo-chen (呂國臣) yesterday said the agency plans to submit the proposed amendments to the Executive Yuan for review in the fourth quarter this year. The CWA has been monitoring high-temperature trends for an extended period, and the agency contributes scientific data to the recently established High Temperature Response Alliance led by the Ministry of Environment, Lu said. The data include temperature, humidity, radiation intensity and ambient wind,
SECOND SPEECH: All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist the CCP, despite their differences, the president said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday discussed how pro-Taiwan and pro-Republic of China (ROC) groups can agree to maintain solidarity on the issue of protecting Taiwan and resisting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The talk, delivered last night at Taoyuan’s Hakka Youth Association, was the second in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. Citing Taiwanese democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui’s (蔣渭水) slogan that solidarity brings strength, Lai said it was a call for political parties to find consensus amid disagreements on behalf of bettering the nation. All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist
RSS