The Chinese government urged Taiwan yesterday to "bow to public opinion" and develop relations with China, an apparent reference to the tougher policy signaled towards Beijing by the president.
Asked to comment on President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) new Cabinet, Li Weiyi (李維一), spokesman for Beijing's policy-making Taiwan Affairs Office, warned the president against "adopting practices that run counter to the wishes and interests of numerous Taiwan compatriots."
"We hope the Taiwan authorities will recognize the trend of the times, bow to public opinion ... and boost cross-strait exchanges and cooperation, as well as ease and develop cross-strait relations," Li told a news conference.
Responding to Beijing's criticism, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) officials said there was nothing new in the remarks, which merely trotted out China's usual political agenda embodied in the "Anti-Secession" Law. The law outlines China's "right" to attack Taiwan if it "moves toward independence."
The officials also told Beijing not to misinterpret public opinion in Taiwan, and thereby miss opportunities to normalize relations between the two countries.
China also called for talks to make the current Lunar New Year direct cross-strait flights available year-round.
Li said Chinese officials have repeatedly urged talks with their Taiwanese counterparts on year-round charters, showing China's "sincerity and good will."
"Responsible officials in Taiwan have also openly expressed their support for joint talks on starting passenger and freight charter flights," Li said.
But the MAC officials said that Beijing has prevented Taiwan's democratically elected government from being involved in talks on "certain cross-strait issues."
The Chen administration has the final say over air routes, although aviation talks with China must be held by nominally private industry groups because of Beijing's refusal to recognize Taiwan's government.
Li's comments echoed those of outgoing premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), who stepped down on Monday with a warning to Chen that his policies were out of sync with the wishes of the Taiwanese people.
Taiwan investors have poured an estimated US$100 billion in China and are pushing for direct air and shipping links -- banned due to security fears -- to cut costs and save time.
Taiwan posted a trade surplus of US$58 billion with China last year, Li said, adding that Taiwan's accumulated trade surplus of US$330 billion with China eclipsed its foreign exchange reserves of US$253.29 billion at the end of December.
"This huge trade surplus has directly boosted [Taiwan's] economy, resolved the employment problem of many and raised the incomes of many residents," Li said.
Also at the news conference, Li denounced a recent call by Chen for stronger government controls over Taiwanese investments in China.
China buys an estimated 40 percent of Taiwanese exports. Without its trade surplus with China, Taiwan would run a trade deficit, Li said.
"The victims of any manmade sabotage or harm to cross-strait trade would be the Taiwanese economy and the Taiwanese people," Li said.
The Chinese spokesman then renewed an offer to give Taiwan a pair of pandas as a "token of peace," and welcomed Taiwanese businesspeople to invest in Olympic projects ahead of the 2008 Beijing Games.
He said China was also seriously considering allowing the Olympic torch relay to cross Taiwan.
"The Beijing Olympic Committee ... will fully consider the desire of Taiwan compatriots and will satisfy the desire of Taiwan compatriots to share in the joy and glory the Olympic torch can bring," Li said.
Additional reporting by Chiu Yu-tzu
The government is aiming to recruit 1,096 foreign English teachers and teaching assistants this year, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. The foreign teachers would work closely with elementary and junior-high instructors to create and teach courses, ministry official Tsai Yi-ching (蔡宜靜) said. Together, they would create an immersive language environment, helping to motivate students while enhancing the skills of local teachers, she said. The ministry has since 2021 been recruiting foreign teachers through the Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program, which offers placement, salary, housing and other benefits to eligible foreign teachers. Two centers serving northern and southern Taiwan assist in recruiting and training
WIDE NET: Health officials said they are considering all possibilities, such as bongkrekic acid, while the city mayor said they have not ruled out the possibility of a malicious act of poisoning Two people who dined at a restaurant in Taipei’s Far Eastern Department Store Xinyi A13 last week have died, while four are in intensive care, the Taipei Department of Health said yesterday. All of the outlets of Malaysian vegetarian restaurant franchise Polam Kopitiam have been ordered to close pending an investigation after 11 people became ill due to suspected food poisoning, city officials told a news conference in Taipei. The first fatality, a 39-year-old man who ate at the restaurant on Friday last week, died of kidney failure two days later at the city’s Mackay Memorial Hospital. A 66-year-old man who dined
‘CARRIER KILLERS’: The Tuo Chiang-class corvettes’ stealth capability means they have a radar cross-section as small as the size of a fishing boat, an analyst said President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday presided over a ceremony at Yilan County’s Suao Harbor (蘇澳港), where the navy took delivery of two indigenous Tuo Chiang-class corvettes. The corvettes, An Chiang (安江) and Wan Chiang (萬江), along with the introduction of the coast guard’s third and fourth 4,000-tonne cutters earlier this month, are a testament to Taiwan’s shipbuilding capability and signify the nation’s resolve to defend democracy and freedom, Tsai said. The vessels are also the last two of six Tuo Chiang-class corvettes ordered from Lungteh Shipbuilding Co (龍德造船) by the navy, Tsai said. The first Tuo Chiang-class vessel delivered was Ta Chiang (塔江)
EYE ON STRAIT: The US spending bill ‘doubles security cooperation funding for Taiwan,’ while also seeking to counter the influence of China US President Joe Biden on Saturday signed into law a US$1.2 trillion spending package that includes US$300 million in foreign military financing to Taiwan, as well as funding for Taipei-Washington cooperative projects. The US Congress early on Saturday overwhelmingly passed the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act 2024 to avoid a partial shutdown and fund the government through September for a fiscal year that began six months ago. Under the package, the Defense Appropriations Act would provide a US$27 billion increase from the previous fiscal year to fund “critical national defense efforts, including countering the PRC [People’s Republic of China],” according to a summary