Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (
Lien was given a red-carpet welcome in Nanjing by the head of the Communist Party's Taiwan Office, Chen Yunlin (
"Taipei and Nanjing are not too distant, but it still took 60 years to come here. It certainly took too long to make the journey," Lien said after arriving in this eastern city, which had been the capital when his KMT ruled China.
PHOTO: REUTERS
"So, seeing you here this time, I have a feeling of regret for not seeing you any earlier," Lien told them. "I'm very happy that finally we can make this historic step."
Lien was a little emotional when he stepped into the city, which he said is "a linkage to lots of historical feelings." He vowed to use his "belated" visit to pursue a mutually beneficial, win-win situation for both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
"Concerning the common future of the two sides of the straits and how we can reach a future of mutual benefit and a peaceful win-win situation, it is an issue that everyone is concerned about," he said at the airport.
"The KMT delegation hopes to reach the goal of a peaceful and stable cross-strait relationship and we will work towards this. We really hope that people from all walks of life ... will also strive for this."
Last night, Lien dined with the Communist Party chief of Jiangsu Province, Li Yuanchao (李源潮), who told him that the best way to honor Sun Yat-sen (孫中山) was for ``people on the two sides to unite as one and together oppose and check the Taiwan independence forces.''
Meanwhile, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) expressed regret yesterday over the Hong Kong government's prohibiting Taiwan's envoy from greeting Lien at Hong Kong International Airport earlier in the day.
According to MAC Vice Chairman You Ying-lung (
Pao, who is the managing director of Chung Hwa Travel Service in Hong Kong, went to the airport to welcome and offer assistance to Lien and his entourage. You said Pao was barred by Hong Kong government staff from meeting Lien.
"We are baffled and regretful at Hong Kong authorities' handling of the matter," You said, adding that the council will seek an explanation from the Hong Kong government over the incident.
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