President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday said the confrontation between North and South Korea highlighted the importance of Taiwan promoting a peaceful cross-strait relationship with China.
Ma expressed concern about the tensions between the two nations, while touting his government’s efforts to improve relations with China.
“We are concerned about the tensions in the region. On the other hand, we think our goal of improving cross-strait relations is correct,” Ma said while meeting a European Parliament delegation led by Germany’s Michael Gahler at the Presidential Office.
Tensions between the two Koreas accelerated after the South blamed the North for a March 26 torpedo strike that sank the warship Cheonan, killing 46 sailors.
The US has thrown its full support behind Seoul’s moves and said the two nation’s are planning two major military exercises off the Korean Peninsula in a display of force intended to deter future aggression by the North.
China, on the other hand, has not backed the strong response from the US, Japan and South Korea, saying only that the North should show restraint.
Ma yesterday said the Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait have been sources of tension in East Asia. The tensions across the strait have been greatly reduced since his administration worked to improve relations with China, he said.
“My administration will continue its efforts to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We will replace confrontation with negotiations and seek reconciliation,” he said.
Presidential Office Spokesman Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) later added that the government would be alert to the situation on the Korean Peninsula and take related measures if necessary.
Saying that Taiwan maintains close relations with Europe, Ma also told his European guests yesterday that over the past two years the EU has stated 11 times its support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and activities.
He expressed hope that the EU would grant visa-waiver status to Taiwanese and that trade ties becould be strengthened by signing a Taiwan-EU trade enhancement measures agreement.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
AGING: While Japan has 22 submarines, Taiwan only operates four, two of which were commissioned by the US in 1945 and 1946, and transferred to Taiwan in 1973 Taiwan would need at least 12 submarines to reach modern fleet capabilities, CSBC Corp, Taiwan chairman Chen Cheng-hung (陳政宏) said in an interview broadcast on Friday, citing a US assessment. CSBC is testing the nation’s first indigenous defense submarine, the Hai Kun (海鯤, Narwhal), which is scheduled to be delivered to the navy next month or in July. The Hai Kun has completed torpedo-firing tests and is scheduled to undergo overnight sea trials, Chen said on an SET TV military affairs program. Taiwan would require at least 12 submarines to establish a modern submarine force after assessing the nation’s operational environment and defense
Yangmingshan National Park authorities yesterday urged visitors to respect public spaces and obey the law after a couple was caught on a camera livestream having sex at the park’s Qingtiangang (擎天崗) earlier in the day. The Shilin Police Precinct in Taipei said it has identified a suspect and his vehicle registration number, and would summon him for questioning. The case would be handled in accordance with public indecency charges, it added. The couple entered the park at about 11pm on Thursday and began fooling around by 1am yesterday, the police said, adding that the two were unaware of the park’s all-day live
The coast guard today said that it had disrupted "illegal" operations by a Chinese research ship in waters close to the nation and driven it away, part of what Taipei sees a provocative pattern of China's stepped up maritime activities. The coast guard said that it on Thursday last week detected the Chinese ship Tongji (同濟號), which was commissioned only last year, 29 nautical miles (54km) southeast of the southern tip of Taiwan, although just outside restricted waters. The ship was observed lowering ropes into the water, suspected to be the deployment of scientific instruments for "illegal" survey operations, and the coast
A former soldier and an active-duty army officer were yesterday indicted for allegedly selling classified military training materials to a Chinese intelligence operative for a total of NT$79,440. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office indicted Chen Tai-yin (陳泰尹) and Lee Chun-ta (李俊達) for contravening the National Security Act (國家安全法) and the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例). Chen left the military in September 2013 after serving alongside then-staff sergeant Lee, now an army lieutenant, at the 21st Artillery Command of the army’s Sixth Corps from 2011 to 2013, according to the indictment. Chen met a Chinese intelligence operative identified as “Wang” (王) through a friend in November
RSS