Premier Frank Hsieh (
According to Hsieh, three agreements were reached at the meeting: that the Cabinet and the PFP will assist each other in getting "important bills" through the legislature, the Cabinet refrain from proposing politically sensitive bills, and the Cabinet will support bills or laws related to easing cross-strait tensions.
Vice Premier Wu Rong-i (
The close-door breakfast meeting was held at Taipei's Sheraton Hotel yesterday. But both Hsieh and PFP representatives talked to the press after the meeting.
"The conversation was harmonious ... a pleasant atmosphere," Chou said.
"Since no national elections will be held in the next three years, I think maybe it is a good chance for us to work together," Hsieh said.
Hsieh said that debates over political ideology would only prolong the conflict between opposing camps instead of getting anything done. He promised the PFP politicians he will not let such a thing take place during his term as premier.
"Political-oriented proposals will not be approved at the legislature. Let us stop wasting our time and start to do something," Hsieh said.
The premier also emphasized that issues related to the cross-strait relationship are the president's responsibility. However, he would do his best as premier to enforce the president's orders.
"I will see what I can do regarding this issue," he said.
In response to Hsieh's cross-strait remarks, Liu also said that the PFP would be more than happy to contribute.
"Building and making better the situation in the Taiwan Strait has always been one of our priorities. We will keep making positive contributions to this issue in the future. The premier said the Cabinet will work on [cross-strait issues] in the future," Liu said.
Liu said that Chin asked the premier whether it is possible to organize regular meetings with the PFP, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and leaders from other political parties.
"In the past, the Cabinet has proposed too many controversial bills and created lots of hatred between politicians and supporters of different parties. I hope this will not happen again in the future," Liu said.
ROLLER-COASTER RIDE: More than five earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.4 to 5.5 on the Richter scale shook eastern Taiwan in rapid succession yesterday afternoon Back-to-back weather fronts are forecast to hit Taiwan this week, resulting in rain across the nation in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration said yesterday, as it also warned residents in mountainous regions to be wary of landslides and rockfalls. As the first front approached, sporadic rainfall began in central and northern parts of Taiwan yesterday, the agency said, adding that rain is forecast to intensify in those regions today, while brief showers would also affect other parts of the nation. A second weather system is forecast to arrive on Thursday, bringing additional rain to the whole nation until Sunday, it
LANDSLIDES POSSIBLE: The agency advised the public to avoid visiting mountainous regions due to more expected aftershocks and rainfall from a series of weather fronts A series of earthquakes over the past few days were likely aftershocks of the April 3 earthquake in Hualien County, with further aftershocks to be expected for up to a year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Based on the nation’s experience after the quake on Sept. 21, 1999, more aftershocks are possible over the next six months to a year, the agency said. A total of 103 earthquakes of magnitude 4 on the local magnitude scale or higher hit Hualien County from 5:08pm on Monday to 10:27am yesterday, with 27 of them exceeding magnitude 5. They included two, of magnitude
CONDITIONAL: The PRC imposes secret requirements that the funding it provides cannot be spent in states with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Emma Reilly said China has been bribing UN officials to obtain “special benefits” and to block funding from countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a former UN employee told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. At a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into “international relations within the multilateral system,” former Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) employee Emma Reilly said in a written statement that “Beijing paid bribes to the two successive Presidents of the [UN] General Assembly” during the two-year negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Another way China exercises influence within the UN Secretariat is
Taiwan’s first drag queen to compete on the internationally acclaimed RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅), was on Friday crowned the “Next Drag Superstar.” Dressed in a sparkling banana dress, Nymphia Wind swept onto the stage for the final, and stole the show. “Taiwan this is for you,” she said right after show host RuPaul announced her as the winner. “To those who feel like they don’t belong, just remember to live fearlessly and to live their truth,” she said on stage. One of the frontrunners for the past 15 episodes, the 28-year-old breezed through to the final after weeks of showcasing her unique