A Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) delegation that will travel to China on Monday should use the opportunity to relay Taiwan's anger over the "Anti Secession" Law to the Chinese leadership, Premier Frank Hsieh (
"It is not appropriate for me to comment on lawmakers' behavior, but I believe that lawmakers will not do something stupid to jeopardize their own reputation and credibility," Hsieh said in the legislature, responding to a question raised by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) about whether KMT Legislator Chiang Pin-kun (江丙坤) picked a good time to visit China.
Despite a rally against the "Anti Secession" Law that is scheduled for this afternoon, Chiang, who is also a KMT vice chairman, is planning to lead a delegation of KMT members to China on Monday.
Hsieh was giving an administrative briefing at the Legislative Yuan yesterday.
"It is OK for him [Chiang] to visit China but I hope that he would help deliver a message on behalf of the Taiwanese people as well, so that Chinese officials will be able to hear our voice clearly and directly -- we are totally opposed to the Anti Secession Law," Hsieh said.
"Some people protest here, some people visit there. It is all for Taiwan's good. I have no problem with that," he said.
Chiang was not present at the meeting yesterday, so lawmakers asked whether Hsieh will meet with him and ask him to forward a message to Chinese officials.
"I think he has heard us at this moment by watching us through the closed-circuit video in his office," Hsieh said.
According to the schedule announced by the KMT last Tuesday, Chiang will be leading a delegation to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing and the Mausoleum of the 72 Martyrs in Guangzhou between Monday and April 1.
In the meantime, Yeh Yi-ching (
"Currently, the law does not clearly regulate what kind of activities will be regarded as promoting Taiwan's independence. We need to take advantage of the rally to seek international support. With such support, we can press [Chinese officials] to clarify the grey areas," Hsieh answered. "Otherwise, they will be able to make all kinds of excuses to make a military strike against us any time they want."
KMT Legislator Yang Li-hung (
Hsieh told her that government officials are also Taiwanese citizens, and have the right to speak out. He encouraged his fellow government officials to do so, but he said he did not encourage them to lead the crowd.
"It is everybody's responsibility to do something for the country, including government officials," Hsieh said. "Taking part in the rally is only a sign that we are with the people, instead of leading a protest."
Regarding safety concerns, the premier said that the National Security Bureau will be in charge of protecting the president. In addition, the heads of major security-related offices, including the Ministry of Justice, the Bureau of Investigation, local police departments and the National Police Agency will be on duty to respond to any kind of emergency.
"No problem at all," the premier said.
RESPONSE: The transit sends a message that China’s alignment with other countries would not deter the West from defending freedom of navigation, an academic said Canadian frigate the Ville de Quebec and Australian guided-missile destroyer the Brisbane transited the Taiwan Strait yesterday morning, the first time the two nations have conducted a joint freedom of navigation operation. The Canadian and Australian militaries did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Ministry of National Defense declined to confirm the passage, saying only that Taiwan’s armed forces had deployed surveillance and reconnaissance assets, along with warships and combat aircraft, to safeguard security across the Strait. The two vessels were observed transiting northward along the eastern side of the Taiwan Strait’s median line, with Japan being their most likely destination,
GLOBAL ISSUE: If China annexes Taiwan, ‘it will not stop its expansion there, as it only becomes stronger and has more force to expand further,’ the president said China’s military and diplomatic expansion is not a sole issue for Taiwan, but one that risks world peace, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, adding that Taiwan would stand with the alliance of democratic countries to preserve peace through deterrence. Lai made the remark in an exclusive interview with the Chinese-language Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times). “China is strategically pushing forward to change the international order,” Lai said, adding that China established the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, launched the Belt and Road Initiative, and pushed for yuan internationalization, because it wants to replace the democratic rules-based international
ECONOMIC BOOST: Should the more than 23 million people eligible for the NT$10,000 handouts spend them the same way as in 2023, GDP could rise 0.5 percent, an official said Universal cash handouts of NT$10,000 (US$330) are to be disbursed late next month at the earliest — including to permanent residents and foreign residents married to Taiwanese — pending legislative approval, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. The Executive Yuan yesterday approved the Special Act for Strengthening Economic, Social and National Security Resilience in Response to International Circumstances (因應國際情勢強化經濟社會及民生國安韌性特別條例). The NT$550 billion special budget includes NT$236 billion for the cash handouts, plus an additional NT$20 billion set aside as reserve funds, expected to be used to support industries. Handouts might begin one month after the bill is promulgated and would be completed within
The National Development Council (NDC) yesterday unveiled details of new regulations that ease restrictions on foreigners working or living in Taiwan, as part of a bid to attract skilled workers from abroad. The regulations, which could go into effect in the first quarter of next year, stem from amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) passed by lawmakers on Aug. 29. Students categorized as “overseas compatriots” would be allowed to stay and work in Taiwan in the two years after their graduation without obtaining additional permits, doing away with the evaluation process that is currently required,
RSS