President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen revealed yesterday that he had a telephone conversation with Soong on Saturday night before his departure for the Marshall Islands on an official visit.
During the conversation, he asked Soong to act as his messenger and deliver certain friendly messages to Chinese officials.
PHOTO: CNA
But the president did not say whether Soong had agreed or not.
"However, my request to Soong does not mean that he has been `authorized' by the government. That is totally different," Chen said.
The president made his remarks during the flight from Taipei to Agana, Guam, yesterday.
In the meantime, Chen also said Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) kept the promise that he had made during their telephone conversation on April 26 and did not cross the line.
"Lien is actually suffering from terrific pressure from the US authorities regarding his trip to China. But, I am glad that he did not break his promise to me, according to the `five-point vision for cross-strait peace' which was announced as a joint press statement," Chen said.
"I have to say what I feel about chairman Lien and chairman Soong's trips to China," the president said.
According to Chen, prior to Lien's trip, a "US authority" has urged him not to become an instrument of propaganda for the Chinese communists and Lien has promised not to let this happen. In addition, Lien called him on April 26 and, obviously, the "five-point vision for cross-strait peace" showed that Lien did not break his promise.
Chen did not explain who the "US authority" was but it is believed to be American Institute in Taiwan Director Douglas Paal, who met with Lien a couple of weeks ago.
However, senior presidential advisor Koo Kwang-ming (
Koo established a fishing company in Majuro and registered six of his fishing boats in the Marshall Islands. In addition, he also invested US$600,000 in the Bank of Marshall Islands. He went to Majuro last week to deal with details of the president's trip and was part of a welcoming group, organized by Marshall Islands officials, at the airport when Chen's charter plane landed around 6pm, local time.
"No matter how we hate each other at home, once we step out, we shall stand together as a team," Koo said.
Chen departed from Taipei around 5am yesterday to begin his five-day trip to cement Taiwan's diplomatic relationships with the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu.
According to the Presidential Office, one of the purposes of the president's trip was to participate in the Marshall Islands' Independence Day celebrations yesterday.
"The president leaves on May 1 and will return to Taiwan on May 5," said Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General James Huang (黃志芳).
According to Huang, the navy also sent two of its Lafayette-class frigates to visit the Marshall Islands and participate in the celebration activities. Chen will invite Marshall Islands President Kessai Note and reporters to board one of the frigates for breakfast today.
After the breakfast, Chen will deliver a speech at the Marshall Islands parliament which will be broadcast live by a local radio station, while a TV station will record the entire event and air it later.
In the afternoon, Chen will board a canoe with Note for the launching ceremony of a canoe contest.
Chen will leave for Tarawa, Kiribati's capital, tomorrow.
In Tarawa, the president is scheduled to deliver a speech at Kiribati's parliament at 3pm.
On Wednesday, Chen will leave for Funafuti, Tuvalu's capital. However, due to the limitations of Funafuti International Airport's facilities, only propeller aircraft will be allowed to land. Half of Chen's team will therefore fly directly to Agana, Guam, while the president and 15 reporters visit the country.
According to the official schedule, the president will meet with Tuvalu Governor Filoimea Telito and Prime Minister Maatia Toafa and will sign an agreement with Toafa after the meetings.
Chen, officials and reporters will leave Funafuti for Guam on the same day and will return to Taiwan on Thursday.
also see story:
PFP confirms Chen-Soong telephone call
ROLLER-COASTER RIDE: More than five earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.4 to 5.5 on the Richter scale shook eastern Taiwan in rapid succession yesterday afternoon Back-to-back weather fronts are forecast to hit Taiwan this week, resulting in rain across the nation in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration said yesterday, as it also warned residents in mountainous regions to be wary of landslides and rockfalls. As the first front approached, sporadic rainfall began in central and northern parts of Taiwan yesterday, the agency said, adding that rain is forecast to intensify in those regions today, while brief showers would also affect other parts of the nation. A second weather system is forecast to arrive on Thursday, bringing additional rain to the whole nation until Sunday, it
LANDSLIDES POSSIBLE: The agency advised the public to avoid visiting mountainous regions due to more expected aftershocks and rainfall from a series of weather fronts A series of earthquakes over the past few days were likely aftershocks of the April 3 earthquake in Hualien County, with further aftershocks to be expected for up to a year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Based on the nation’s experience after the quake on Sept. 21, 1999, more aftershocks are possible over the next six months to a year, the agency said. A total of 103 earthquakes of magnitude 4 on the local magnitude scale or higher hit Hualien County from 5:08pm on Monday to 10:27am yesterday, with 27 of them exceeding magnitude 5. They included two, of magnitude
CONDITIONAL: The PRC imposes secret requirements that the funding it provides cannot be spent in states with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Emma Reilly said China has been bribing UN officials to obtain “special benefits” and to block funding from countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a former UN employee told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. At a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into “international relations within the multilateral system,” former Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) employee Emma Reilly said in a written statement that “Beijing paid bribes to the two successive Presidents of the [UN] General Assembly” during the two-year negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Another way China exercises influence within the UN Secretariat is
Taiwan’s first drag queen to compete on the internationally acclaimed RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅), was on Friday crowned the “Next Drag Superstar.” Dressed in a sparkling banana dress, Nymphia Wind swept onto the stage for the final, and stole the show. “Taiwan this is for you,” she said right after show host RuPaul announced her as the winner. “To those who feel like they don’t belong, just remember to live fearlessly and to live their truth,” she said on stage. One of the frontrunners for the past 15 episodes, the 28-year-old breezed through to the final after weeks of showcasing her unique