Lawmakers from both political camps yesterday agreed to pass a legislative resolution to voice the nation's opposition to China's proposed "anti-secession" law, which will most likely be passed during the National People's Congress session which begins tomorrow.
The Legislative Yuan resolution opposing the Chinese law will probably be passed before Tuesday, when the NPC will begin its hearing regarding the anti-secession law.
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
For fear of being outshined by its erstwhile ally, the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus yesterday proposed its own version of the resolution for today's meeting.
The DPP's draft, entitled "Safeguarding the Sovereignty of the Republic of China," says that the legislature should reach a resolution to reflect the resolve of the Taiwanese people to defend their nation's sovereignty.
"The Republic of China is an independent sovereign state, and not a subordinate of the People's Republic of China," the statement says. "This status quo cannot be altered without the consent of the people of Taiwan via the means of a referendum. The status quo in the Taiwan Strait should be commonly respected, and maintained by the international community, including the People's Republic of China."
Attempts to change such a status quo by any country, regardless of its means -- legislative or military, should be severely condemned and contested by the people of Taiwan, the statement says.
The DPP's draft is similar to that proposed by the TSU. Which states that Taiwan is an independent sovereign state and not part of China. The people of Taiwan should have the right to decide their own future and destiny and pursue such common values as freedom, human rights, democracy and peace.
Pan-blue lawmakers, however, remained evasive about their final stance on the matter.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Chen Chieh (陳杰) said that his caucus' support hinges on the content of the resolution.
"We will endorse it if it is beneficial to the nation, but we will oppose it if it is detrimental," he said.
People First Party caucus whip Chen Chih-bin (
In addition to the legislative resolution, Wang said that lawmakers yesterday agreed to present nominees for the legislature's "cross-strait affair response taskforce" by March 20.
The 25-member task force will be headed by Wang and Deputy Speaker Chung Jung-chi (
Also See Story:
GIO urges Beijing not to push `anti-secession' law
CHAOS: Iranians took to the streets playing celebratory music after reports of Khamenei’s death on Saturday, while mourners also gathered in Tehran yesterday Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major attack on Iran launched by Israel and the US, throwing the future of the Islamic republic into doubt and raising the risk of regional instability. Iranian state television and the state-run IRNA news agency announced the 86-year-old’s death early yesterday. US President Donald Trump said it gave Iranians their “greatest chance” to “take back” their country. The announcements came after a joint US and Israeli aerial bombardment that targeted Iranian military and governmental sites. Trump said the “heavy and pinpoint bombing” would continue through the week or as long
TRUST: The KMT said it respected the US’ timing and considerations, and hoped it would continue to honor its commitments to helping Taiwan bolster its defenses and deterrence US President Donald Trump is delaying a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan to ensure his visit to Beijing is successful, a New York Times report said. The weapons sales package has stalled in the US Department of State, the report said, citing US officials it did not identify. The White House has told agencies not to push forward ahead of Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), it said. The two last month held a phone call to discuss trade and geopolitical flashpoints ahead of the summit. Xi raised the Taiwan issue and urged the US to handle arms sales to
State-run CPC Corp, Taiwan (CPC, 台灣中油) yesterday said that it had confirmed on Saturday night with its liquefied natural gas (LNG) and crude oil suppliers that shipments are proceeding as scheduled and that domestic supplies remain unaffected. The CPC yesterday announced the gasoline and diesel prices will rise by NT$0.2 and NT$0.4 per liter, respectively, starting Monday, citing Middle East tensions and blizzards in the eastern United States. CPC also iterated it has been reducing the proportion of crude oil imports from the Middle East and diversifying its supply sources in the past few years in response to geopolitical risks, expanding
Pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai’s (黎智英) fraud conviction and prison sentence were yesterday overturned by a Hong Kong court, in a surprise legal decision that comes soon after Lai was jailed for 20 years on a separate national security charge. Judges Jeremy Poon (潘兆初), Anthea Pang (彭寶琴) and Derek Pang (彭偉昌) said in the judgement that they allowed the appeal from Lai, and another defendant in the case, to proceed, as a lower court judge had “erred.” “The Court of Appeal gave them leave to appeal against their conviction, allowed their appeals, quashed the convictions and set aside the sentences,” the judges
RSS