New York Mayor Michael Bloom-berg has stirred up a political storm by referring to Taiwan as a country, much like China, and by saying he "certainly would meet with Taiwanese officials."
Bloomberg, who replaced Rudolph Guiliani early this year, made the comments after meeting with Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao (
After meeting with Hu, Bloomberg was asked if he would consider meeting with representatives of the government of Taiwan. He replied that he "certainly would" and that he "would certainly welcome visitors from either country."
An editorial in the new newspaper, which only began circulating on April 16, recalled that Bloomberg's predecessor was even more blunt and honest by maintaining "a memorably principled policy."
Guiliani famously refused twice to meet with top Chinese officials, according to the editorial, which noted that President Jiang Zemin (
It pointed out that US policy that recognizes China and acknowledges its "one China" policy has meant that leaders of Taiwan are unable to come to the US on state visits.
They are allowed transit, however, and when President Chen Shui-bian (
When Bloomberg met with Hu, it said, the new mayor "at least made it clear that he was prepared to meet also with the Free Chinese leadership and suggested he thinks of Taiwan as a country."
The New York Sun said friends of Taiwan in America viewed Bloomberg's remarks as expressing "a reality which the State Department and the Bush administration have insisted on denying -- that the Republic of China on Taiwan is, like the People's Republic of China on the mainland, a country of its own."
The director general of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, Andrew Hsia (
The deputy executive director of the New American Century, Tom Donelly, told the newspaper that "the fiction that Taiwan is part of China is increasingly difficult to credit."
"I'm not surprised that Mayor Bloomberg might have inadvertently let the truth get out," he added.
The report quoted Donnely as saying that the "one China" policy advanced by China has become increasingly difficult for the US to maintain as Taiwan has democratized and as US relations with China have grown tense.
"The world has changed, Taiwan has changed," he was quoted as adding.
The daily then quoted a senior Senate Republican foreign affairs staffer of Senator Jesse Helms, a long time supporter of Taiwan, as saying Bloomberg's remarks "represent the basic good instinct of the American people."
The staffer, speaking on condition of anonymity, added that "these are actually two countries, and one of them is a democracy."
A spokesman for the PRC consulate in New York declined to comment on Bloomberg's remarks, the report said.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
RSS