President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen made the remarks yesterday while receiving US Senator John Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, at the Presidential Office.
"In a bid to preserve Taiwan's economic security, stabilize its national security and uphold peace in the Asia-Pacific region, it is necessary for the US government and its Congress to support and push for the signing of an FTA between the two countries," Chen said.
"China's rise is definitely not a peaceful rise. It is an economic and military rise," the president said. "The development of China's economic power has led many countries to harbor a fantasy about it ... China is actively courting ASEAN and Latin American countries into signing FTAs, through which it will work to marginalize Taiwan from taking part in the integration of the regional economy."
China, by vigorously signing FTAs with other countries, is at the same time preventing many countries from signing FTAs with Taiwan, Chen said, adding that "the purpose of this is to demote, trim and localize Taiwan's status and thereby weaken Taiwan's self-defense capability."
Chen shared with his US visitor a new definition of a country's national security.
"The new definition of a country's national security is not limited to just military and national defense, but includes a grander strategic concept that encompasses economic security and other security issues," Chen said. "Should Taiwan be marginalized from integration into the regional economy, what follows will be the marginalization of Taiwan's economic security, which will then affect Taiwan's national security and proceed to the next step of wearing down the security of the Asia-Pacific region."
Expressing gratitude for the US Congress' long-term concern over cross-strait security issues, Chen called on the US Congress not to neglect Taiwan's economic security while placing importance on Taiwan's military security.
"Signing an FTA between the US and Taiwan could prevent the US as well as other countries from having their economies tilt toward China," Chen said, adding that the US, by signing an FTA with Taiwan, would set a model for other countries who could sign similar treaties, and thus consolidate Taiwan's economic security.
Noting that this was Rockefeller's 17th visit to Taiwan since 1985, Chen called the senator "Taiwan's best friend" and expressed gratitude for his "long-term unconditional support" for Taiwan.
Rockefeller, who has been a US senator since 1984, is a member of the Senate Finance Committee.
Prior to meeting with Chen, Rockefeller yesterday morning delivered a speech at a seminar held by the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research and the Cross-Strait Common Market Foundation at the Formosa Regent Hotel.
Rockefeller said he would promote cooperation between Taipei and the Bush administration to overcome difficulties in signing an FTA between the two sides.
Aside from meeting with the president, Rockefeller, who arrived in Taiwan on Saturday, also met with Premier Frank Hsieh (
He is slated to head to Japan after visiting Taiwan.
Rockefeller issues call for reform
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off Yilan at 11:05pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The epicenter was located at sea, about 32.3km east of Yilan County Hall, at a depth of 72.8km, CWA data showed There were no immediate reports of damage. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Yilan County area on Taiwan’s seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. It measured 4 in other parts of eastern, northern and central Taiwan as well as Tainan, and 3 in Kaohsiung and Pingtung County, and 2 in Lienchiang and Penghu counties and 1
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE: Beijing would likely intensify public opinion warfare in next year’s local elections to prevent Lai from getting re-elected, the ‘Yomiuri Shimbun’ said Internal documents from a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company indicated that China has been using the technology to intervene in foreign elections, including propaganda targeting Taiwan’s local elections next year and presidential elections in 2028, a Japanese newspaper reported yesterday. The Institute of National Security of Vanderbilt University obtained nearly 400 pages of documents from GoLaxy, a company with ties to the Chinese government, and found evidence that it had apparently deployed sophisticated, AI-driven propaganda campaigns in Hong Kong and Taiwan to shape public opinion, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported. GoLaxy provides insights, situation analysis and public opinion-shaping technology by conducting network surveillance
‘POLITICAL GAME’: DPP lawmakers said the motion would not meet the legislative threshold needed, and accused the KMT and the TPP of trivializing the Constitution The Legislative Yuan yesterday approved a motion to initiate impeachment proceedings against President William Lai (賴清德), saying he had undermined Taiwan’s constitutional order and democracy. The motion was approved 61-50 by lawmakers from the main opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), who together hold a legislative majority. Under the motion, a roll call vote for impeachment would be held on May 19 next year, after various hearings are held and Lai is given the chance to defend himself. The move came after Lai on Monday last week did not promulgate an amendment passed by the legislature that
Taiwan is gearing up to celebrate the New Year at events across the country, headlined by the annual countdown and Taipei 101 fireworks display at midnight. Many of the events are to be livesteamed online. See below for lineups and links: Taipei Taipei’s New Year’s Party 2026 is to begin at 7pm and run until 1am, with the theme “Sailing to the Future.” South Korean girl group KARA is headlining the concert at Taipei City Hall Plaza, with additional performances by Amber An (安心亞), Nick Chou (周湯豪), hip-hop trio Nine One One (玖壹壹), Bii (畢書盡), girl group Genblue (幻藍小熊) and more. The festivities are to
RSS