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.
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