Two New Party leaders yesterday formally announced their withdrawal from the President's Advisory Group on Cross-Strait Relations, saying they were disappointed with the group's inability to reach a consensus.
"The meetings of the advisory group spent two months to discuss many issues but failed to reach any resolution," said New Party Convener Hau Lung-pin (
"We were willing to help President Chen decide which direction to go in dealing with cross-strait relations," Hau said.
"After two months, however, we find that this advisory group purposely avoids the topic of the 1992 consensus on `one China with each side having its own interpretation.' Some members only echo the DPP's ideology and President Chen Shui-bian (
Hau said he and New Party Legislator Lai Shih-pao (
"The three parties represent over 60 percent of public opinion, and therefore, the president can't continually avoid discussing the `one China policy' and the `1992 consensus,' Hau said.
Convener of the advisory group Lee Yuan-tseh (
Meanwhile, the advisory group held its fifth meeting yesterday to discuss the "one China policy," but again failed to reach a conclusion after five hours of talks.
The spokesman of the advisory group said he regretted the two New Party representatives' departure, but said a consensus would ultimately be reached.
"The advisory group should transcend political party or individual interests and be concerned about national interests," said Fan Kuang-chun (
"And we still welcome the New Party to return to our advisory group," he said.
DPP representatives in the advisory group, however, criticized the New Party of "manipulating" the cross-strait relations issue.
"Not only do we have an enemy cross the Strait [China] to pressure Taiwan but also a political party that uses cross-strait policy as an excuse to attack the government," said DPP lawmaker Lin Cho-shui (
South Korea has adjusted its electronic arrival card system to no longer list Taiwan as a part of China, a move that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said would help facilitate exchanges between the two sides. South Korea previously listed “Taiwan” as “Taiwan (China)” in the drop-down menus of its online arrival card system, where people had to fill out where they came from and their next destination. The ministry had requested South Korea make a revision and said it would change South Korea’s name on Taiwan’s online immigration system from “Republic of Korea” to “Korea (South),” should the issue not be
The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee yesterday approved proposed amendments to the Amusement Tax Act (娛樂稅法) that would abolish taxes on films, cultural activities and competitive sporting events, retaining the fee only for dance halls and golf courses. The proposed changes would set the maximum tax rate for dance halls and golf courses at 50 and 20 percent respectively, with local governments authorized to suspend the levies. Article 2 of the act says that “amusement tax shall be levied on tickets sold or fees charged by amusement places, facilities or activities” in six categories: “Cinema; professional singing, story-telling, dancing, circus, magic show, acrobatics
Tainan, Taipei and New Taipei City recorded the highest fines nationwide for illegal accommodations in the first quarter of this year, with fines issued in the three cities each exceeding NT$7 million (US$220,639), Tourism Administration data showed. Among them, Taipei had the highest number of illegal short-term rental units, with 410. There were 3,280 legally registered hotels nationwide in the first quarter, down by 14 properties, or 0.43 percent, from a year earlier, likely indicating operators exiting the market, the agency said. However, the number of unregistered properties rose to 1,174, including 314 illegal hotels and 860 illegal short-term rental
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