Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) warned that a new global showdown could be emerging because of China's expansionist ambitions, and said that democratic Taiwan was on the frontlines of that conflict.
"Although the Cold War has come to an end, a new cold war may arise," Lee said.
Lee, who is travelling in the US, made the remarks to hundreds of Taiwanese expatriates at a forum held by the Taiwan Advocates in a conference center in Pasadena, California.
"China's attempt to annex Taiwan remains unchanged," Lee said.
"What's worse, the anti-democratic forces within the nation are now allying themselves with Beijing to undermine the democratic achievements of [Taiwan]."
Speaking of Taiwan's future, Lee stressed that the Taiwanese people's drive to maintain the welfare of their homeland will never change, now that their freedom has been won after hundreds of years of colonial rule.
Taiwan should seek to map out an advantageous strategy that recognizes the big power struggle that is in the making: the US is pursuing goals from a global perspective, while China is attempting to become a regional hegemony.
With regard to the nation's economic performance, Lee said that Taiwan's economy should grow at the rate of 6 to 7 percent annually. In the past, Lee said, it was considered terrible if the employment rate hit 2.5 percent.
However, it has now climbed up to 4.4 percent, while growth is now forecast to hit less than 4 percent this year.
"This is what the government has to review," Lee said. "There is no way the nation can enhance its `Taiwan awareness' if the government cannot even solve the economic problems plaguing its people."
Taiwan yesterday denied Chinese allegations that its military was behind a cyberattack on a technology company in Guangzhou, after city authorities issued warrants for 20 suspects. The Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau earlier yesterday issued warrants for 20 people it identified as members of the Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command (ICEFCOM). The bureau alleged they were behind a May 20 cyberattack targeting the backend system of a self-service facility at the company. “ICEFCOM, under Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, directed the illegal attack,” the warrant says. The bureau placed a bounty of 10,000 yuan (US$1,392) on each of the 20 people named in
A Chinese aircraft carrier group entered Japan’s economic waters over the weekend, before exiting to conduct drills involving fighter jets, the Japanese Ministry of Defense said yesterday. The Liaoning aircraft carrier, two missile destroyers and one fast combat supply ship sailed about 300km southwest of Japan’s easternmost island of Minamitori on Saturday, a ministry statement said. It was the first time a Chinese aircraft carrier had entered that part of Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), a ministry spokesman said. “We think the Chinese military is trying to improve its operational capability and ability to conduct operations in distant areas,” the spokesman said. China’s growing
The High Court yesterday found a New Taipei City woman guilty of charges related to helping Beijing secure surrender agreements from military service members. Lee Huei-hsin (李慧馨) was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison for breaching the National Security Act (國家安全法), making illegal compacts with government employees and bribery, the court said. The verdict is final. Lee, the manager of a temple in the city’s Lujhou District (蘆洲), was accused of arranging for eight service members to make surrender pledges to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in exchange for money, the court said. The pledges, which required them to provide identification
Nine retired generals from Taiwan, Japan and the US have been invited to participate in a tabletop exercise hosted by the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation tomorrow and Wednesday that simulates a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan in 2030, the foundation said yesterday. The five retired Taiwanese generals would include retired admiral Lee Hsi-min (李喜明), joined by retired US Navy admiral Michael Mullen and former chief of staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces general Shigeru Iwasaki, it said. The simulation aims to offer strategic insights into regional security and peace in the Taiwan Strait, it added. Foundation chair Huang Huang-hsiung
RSS