Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) has accepted an invitation from the Chinese government to make a trip to China, the KMT said yesterday.
The Central News Agency (CNA) reported earlier in the day that Lien had held a press conference in Tokyo and said he was happy to accept the invitation.
Describing the visit as a "journey of peace," Lien said that the details of his trip would be decided upon his return to Taipei on Tuesday.
During a telephone interview with the Taipei Times yesterday afternoon, KMT spokeswoman Cheng Li-wen (鄭麗文) said that the KMT's party central had been in touch with Lien since Thursday night and had confirmed Lien's acceptance.
"Secretary-General Lin Feng-cheng (林豐正) called Chairman Lien yesterday. During their phone call, Lien said he would accept the invitation and expressed his appreciation for Vice Chairman Chiang Pin-kun's (江丙坤) hard work during Chiang's trip in China and his satisfaction with the trip's results," Cheng said.
The invitation from the Chinese government was made on Thursday night by Jia Qinglin (賈慶林), chairman of the People's Political Consultative Conference, during a meeting with Chiang in Beijing.
Jia said yesterday the invitation was made on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) in his capacity as secretary-general of the CCP's Central Committee, and was extended to Lien in his role as KMT chairman.
The invitation came as the last of a series of friendly gestures between the KMT and the CCP during Chiang's five-day trip to China. During their visit, the 35-member KMT delegation headed by Chiang hammered out 10 proposals for cooperation in trade, transportation and commercial ties between Taiwan and China.
While media speculation has placed the timing of Lien's trip for next month or June, Cheng said it was unlikely he would travel then due to his responsibilities for the July 16 party chairmanship election.
The director of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, Chen Yunlin (陳雲林), relayed that the chairman of Beijing's top advisory body Jia Qinglin had further extended an invitation to People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) to visit China.
Chen said any delegation that recognized the "1992 consensus" and opposed Taiwanese independence was welcome in Beijing, saying the PFP met both conditions.
Chiang held a press conference last night to explain the ten-point agreement he'd reached with the CCP, while busloads of protestors gathered outside holding various banners, flags, and signs reading "scum" and "disgrace to Taiwan."
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS