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.
MAKING WAVES: China’s maritime militia could become a nontraditional threat in war, clogging up shipping lanes to prevent US or Japanese intervention, a report said About 1,900 Chinese ships flying flags of convenience and fishing vessels that participated in China’s military exercises around Taiwan last month and in January last year have been listed for monitoring, Coast Guard Administration (CGA) Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin (謝慶欽) said yesterday. Following amendments to the Commercial Port Act (商港法) and the Law of Ships (船舶法) last month, the CGA can designate possible berthing areas or deny ports of call for vessels suspected of loitering around areas where undersea cables can be accessed, Oceans Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said. The list of suspected ships, originally 300, had risen to about
DAREDEVIL: Honnold said it had always been a dream of his to climb Taipei 101, while a Netflix producer said the skyscraper was ‘a real icon of this country’ US climber Alex Honnold yesterday took on Taiwan’s tallest building, becoming the first person to scale Taipei 101 without a rope, harness or safety net. Hundreds of spectators gathered at the base of the 101-story skyscraper to watch Honnold, 40, embark on his daredevil feat, which was also broadcast live on Netflix. Dressed in a red T-shirt and yellow custom-made climbing shoes, Honnold swiftly moved up the southeast face of the glass and steel building. At one point, he stepped onto a platform midway up to wave down at fans and onlookers who were taking photos. People watching from inside
Japan’s strategic alliance with the US would collapse if Tokyo were to turn away from a conflict in Taiwan, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said yesterday, but distanced herself from previous comments that suggested a possible military response in such an event. Takaichi expressed her latest views on a nationally broadcast TV program late on Monday, where an opposition party leader criticized her for igniting tensions with China with the earlier remarks. Ties between Japan and China have sunk to the worst level in years after Takaichi said in November that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could bring about a Japanese
STREAMLINED: The dedicated funding would allow the US to transfer equipment to Taiwan when needed and order upgraded replacements for stockpiles, a source said The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a defense appropriations bill totaling US$838.7 billion, of which US$1 billion is to be allocated to reinforcing security cooperation with Taiwan and US$150 million to replace defense articles provided to the nation. These are part of the Consolidated Appropriation Act, which the US House yesterday passed with 341 votes in favor and 88 against. The act must be passed by the US Senate before Friday next week to avoid another government shutdown. The US House Committee on Appropriations on Monday unveiled the act, saying that it allocates US$1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative
RSS