In an unprecedented videoconference with members of the European Parliament, President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen also took the opportunity to urge EU members to support Taiwan's bid to join the World Health Organization (WHO).
Referring to the recent agreement on cross-strait charter flights during the Lunar New Year holiday, Chen said that "the event helped to open an opportunity for a ray of sunshine" in cross-strait relations.
"Yet it is regrettable that there is now a dark cloud overshadowing the atmosphere for reconciliation," Chen said, referring to China's proposed anti-secession law.
"China is planning to enact an anti-secession law in its upcoming National People's Congress meeting. This is a blatant and unilateral attempt to undermine cross-strait relations," Chen told his audience in Brussels, which included Graham Watson, chairman of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament, and George Jarzembowski, president of the Taiwan Council of the European Parliament.
Touching on issues concerning the nation's constitutional reform, Chen made a reference to his meeting with People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (
The consensus, that included Chen's reiteration that he will not promote Taiwan's independence or change the country's official name during his term in office, had irked many pan-green supporters.
"I have to be honest with myself as well as with others," Chen said.
"During my term in office I can't change the nation's official name from Republic of China (ROC) to Republic of Taiwan. If I can't do it, I can't do it," Chen said. "Former president Lee Teng-hui (
Aidan White, general-secretary of the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists, Willem van der Geest, director of the European Institute for Asian Studies, were among those taking part in the teleconference, which lasted about an hour and a half.
"While we will continue to extend the hand of friendship, we would like to send out a strong message that more than 83 percent of the people in Taiwan oppose the law," Chen said.
In addition to calling on EU members to support Taiwan's bid to join the WHO, Chen also urged the EU to apply more rigorous standards when considering the lifting of the arms embargo on China to maintain the military balance in the Asia-Pacific region.
MISINFORMATION: The generated content tends to adopt China’s official stance, such as ‘Taiwan is currently governed by the Chinese central government,’ the NSB said Five China-developed artificial intelligence (AI) language models exhibit cybersecurity risks and content biases, an inspection conducted by the National Security Bureau (NSB) showed. The five AI tools are: DeepSeek, Doubao (豆包), Yiyan (文心一言), Tongyi (通義千問) and Yuanbao (騰訊元寶), the bureau said, advising people to remain vigilant to protect personal data privacy and corporate business secrets. The NSB said it, in accordance with the National Intelligence Services Act (國家情報工作法), has reviewed international cybersecurity reports and intelligence, and coordinated with the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau and the National Police Agency’s Criminal Investigation Bureau to conduct an inspection of China-made AI language
BOOST IN CONFIDENCE: The sale sends a clear message of support for Taiwan and dispels rumors that US President Donald Trump ‘sold out’ the nation, an expert said The US government on Thursday announced a possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet parts, which was estimated to cost about US$330 million, in a move that an expert said “sends a clear message of support for Taiwan” amid fears that Washington might be wavering in its attitude toward Taipei. It was the first announcement of an arms sale to Taiwan since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year. The proposed package includes non-standard components, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, as well repair and return support for the F-16, C-130 and Indigenous Defense Fighter aircraft,
CHECKING BOUNDARIES: China wants to disrupt solidarity among democracies and test their red lines, but it is instead pushing nations to become more united, an expert said The US Department of State on Friday expressed deep concern over a Chinese public security agency’s investigation into Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) for “secession.” “China’s actions threaten free speech and erode norms that have underpinned the cross-strait ‘status quo’ for decades,” a US Department of State spokesperson said. The Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau late last month listed Shen as “wanted” and launched an investigation into alleged “secession-related” criminal activities, including his founding of the Kuma Academy, a civil defense organization that prepares people for an invasion by China. The spokesperson said that the US was “deeply concerned” about the bureau investigating Shen
‘TROUBLEMAKER’: Most countries believe that it is China — rather than Taiwan — that is undermining regional peace and stability with its coercive tactics, the president said China should restrain itself and refrain from being a troublemaker that sabotages peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks after China Coast Guard vessels sailed into disputed waters off the Senkaku Islands — known as the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) in Taiwan — following a remark Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made regarding Taiwan. Takaichi during a parliamentary session on Nov. 7 said that a “Taiwan contingency” involving a Chinese naval blockade could qualify as a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, and trigger Tokyo’s deployment of its military for defense. Asked about the escalating tensions
RSS