China’s top cross-strait negotiator arrived in Taichung yesterday for a five-day meeting with his Taiwanese counterpart amid protests at the airport and his hotel.
Waving to protesters standing outside the cordoned off area surrounding his hotel, Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) Chairman Chen Yunlin (陳雲林) told those who welcomed him inside the hotel that he had noted on his way from the airport and outside the hotel that many of his “countrymen” did not welcome him.
‘RESPECT’
PHOTO: REUTERS
Chen said he also saw many who supported his visit and wanted to see the ARATS and the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) sit down and talk about and resolve the problems facing both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
“We fully respect the different opinions expressed by our countrymen,” he said.
“For those countrymen who welcome us, I want to say thank you. Thank you, my friends, for your hospitality,” he said.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Chen also thanked the security personnel supervising his visit, whom he referred to as his “brothers and sisters,” as well as Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強).
WISHING HAPPINESS
Saying that he represented his “fellow countrymen on the mainland,” the ARATS chairman added that he wanted to wish his 23 million “Taiwanese compatriots” happiness and safety.
Chen arrived at Taichung’s Cingcyuangang Airport an hour later than expected.
His entourage exited from one of the main back gates at the airport, avoiding pro-independence activists who had assembled at another gate.
He said he was “greatly excited” that the SEF and the ARATS could do something “practical” for the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
MOVING FORWARD
Over the past year, Chen said the two agencies had signed nine agreements and one consensus, all of which were conducive to the two sides’ economic development and public welfare.
Furthermore, negotiations were conducted on an equal footing and communications were always friendly, he said. The two sides had reached consensus on numerous matters and were moving forward in a practical fashion, he said.
“History has proven and will continue to prove that cross-strait relations are continuing without interruption down the correct path,” he said. “The agreements also show that more people will benefit from them in a more direct way.”
Chen said an increasing number of people — especially “Taiwanese compatriots” — value the mechanism for negotiations between the two sides. The talks have advanced the bilateral economies and well-being of both sides, he said.
‘TEN SUPERHIGHWAYS’
But “there is still a long way to go,” he said. “There may be difficulties ahead, but as long as we keep moving forward, we will see a broader road leading to peace.”
Chen expressed sympathy for the victims of Saturday’s earthquake, which struck off the coast of Hualien County, killing one and injuring 12.
Chiang said the previous nine agreements and one consensus were “10 superhighways” enabling exchanges of people, capital and commodities across the Taiwan Strait.
“Our goal is to pursue peace in the Taiwan Strait and create a win-win situation,” he said.
Looking ahead, Chiang said the new year would be full of opportunities and challenges, but the wisdom and cooperation of the SEF and ARATS could turn challenges into opportunities.
Independence activists and civic groups vowed yesterday to stage more demonstrations against Chen’s visit and the cross-strait policies of President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration.
During the meeting this week, Taiwan and China are expected to sign economic agreements on fishing crew cooperation, agricultural quarantine inspection, industrial product standards, and inspection and certification.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
NO-LIMITS PARTNERSHIP: ‘The bottom line’ is that if the US were to have a conflict with China or Russia it would likely open up a second front with the other, a US senator said Beijing and Moscow could cooperate in a conflict over Taiwan, the top US intelligence chief told the US Senate this week. “We see China and Russia, for the first time, exercising together in relation to Taiwan and recognizing that this is a place where China definitely wants Russia to be working with them, and we see no reason why they wouldn’t,” US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told a US Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing on Thursday. US Senator Mike Rounds asked Haines about such a potential scenario. He also asked US Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse
INSPIRING: Taiwan has been a model in the Asia-Pacific region with its democratic transition, free and fair elections and open society, the vice president-elect said Taiwan can play a leadership role in the Asia-Pacific region, vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) told a forum in Taipei yesterday, highlighting the nation’s resilience in the face of geopolitical challenges. “Not only can Taiwan help, but Taiwan can lead ... not only can Taiwan play a leadership role, but Taiwan’s leadership is important to the world,” Hsiao told the annual forum hosted by the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation think tank. Hsiao thanked Taiwan’s international friends for their long-term support, citing the example of US President Joe Biden last month signing into law a bill to provide aid to Taiwan,
China’s intrusive and territorial claims in the Indo-Pacific region are “illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive,” new US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo said on Friday, adding that he would continue working with allies and partners to keep the area free and open. Paparo made the remarks at a change-of-command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, where he took over the command from Admiral John Aquilino. “Our world faces a complex problem set in the troubling actions of the People’s Republic of China [PRC] and its rapid buildup of forces. We must be ready to answer the PRC’s increasingly intrusive and
STATE OF THE NATION: The legislature should invite the president to deliver an address every year, the TPP said, adding that Lai should also have to answer legislators’ questions The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday proposed inviting president-elect William Lai (賴清德) to make a historic first state of the nation address at the legislature following his inauguration on May 20. Lai is expected to face many domestic and international challenges, and should clarify his intended policies with the public’s representatives, KMT caucus secretary-general Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷) said when making the proposal at a meeting of the legislature’s Procedure Committee. The committee voted to add the item to the agenda for Friday, along with another similar proposal put forward by the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). The invitation is in line with Article 15-2