■Direct links
County chief seeks opening
Kinmen County Chief Lee Chu-feng (李柱烽) yesterday called for the signing of cooperation agreements with China to pave the way for direct links. Lee made the remark while welcoming a 20-member media delegation from Fujian Province, the first of its kind to visit the frontline island. Although on Jan. 1, last year, direct trade and transport links were established between the islands of Kinmen and Matsu and Fujian's two ports -- commonly known as the "three small links" -- Lee said the effects have been limited due to a lack of systematic exchanges or full-scale exchanges. He said Taiwan and China should sign formal accords to allow full trade, transport and postal links to meet the needs of the people on the two sides. He said Kinmen would be willing to help push for bilateral negotiations to accomplish this objective.
■ Diplomacy
Haitian leader gives thanks
Former Haitian president Rene Preval on Tuesday praised the wide-ranging assistance Taiwan has extended to his country, describing Taiwan as Haiti's "most faithful friend." Preval said Taipei is wholehearted in giving its assistance, no matter whether it is economic, technical or moral support. He said sharing of development experience is also important in helping Haiti get back on its feet. Preval made the remarks during an interview with CNA at which the ROC Ambassador Lu Ching-lung (呂慶龍) was also present. Recounting Beijing's attempt to set up formal ties with Haiti, Preval said that his government was only interested in forging trade links with China. Preval also lauded Lu as an outstanding and responsible envoy, good at strengthening coordination and promoting bilateral cooperation.
■ Diplomacy
Dignitary meets Wang
Marshall Islands parliament speaker Litokwa Tomeing yesterday urged Beijing to dismantle its missiles deployed along coastal provinces. Tomeing made the remarks while calling on his counterpart Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平). Noting that peace is an important factor that affects partnership and a basic climate where all countries in the world can co-exist, Tomeing urged Beijing to impose self-restraint, especially in dismantling its missiles, to seek peace in the Asia-Pacific region. He also expressed the hope that cross-strait issues will be solved through peaceful dialogue. Tomeing reiterated his parliament's support in further promoting bilateral cooperative relations and said Marshall Islands people will take all necessary measures to strengthen bilateral ties. Wang thanked Tomeing for his remarks, hoping that the two countries will maintain an everlasting friendly relationship.
■ Diplomacy
Lu wants to visit Panama
Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) said yesterday that she would like to visit Panama to help cement the close relations between the two countries. Lu made the remarks during a meeting at the Presidential Office with Panama's Minister of Youth, Women, Children and Families Alba Tejada de Rolla. The Panamanian official invited Lu to visit Panama next year when the country celebrates its centennial anniversary. Lu also discussed her hope of establishing an organization of the world's female leaders and thanked Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso for agreeing to travel to Taiwan in March to attend a conference of the Democratic Pacific Union.
Agencies
Former Czech Republic-based Taiwanese researcher Cheng Yu-chin (鄭宇欽) has been sentenced to seven years in prison on espionage-related charges, China’s Ministry of State Security announced yesterday. China said Cheng was a spy for Taiwan who “masqueraded as a professor” and that he was previously an assistant to former Cabinet secretary-general Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰). President-elect William Lai (賴清德) on Wednesday last week announced Cho would be his premier when Lai is inaugurated next month. Today is China’s “National Security Education Day.” The Chinese ministry yesterday released a video online showing arrests over the past 10 years of people alleged to be
THE HAWAII FACTOR: While a 1965 opinion said an attack on Hawaii would not trigger Article 5, the text of the treaty suggests the state is covered, the report says NATO could be drawn into a conflict in the Taiwan Strait if Chinese forces attacked the US mainland or Hawaii, a NATO Defense College report published on Monday says. The report, written by James Lee, an assistant research fellow at Academia Sinica’s Institute of European and American Studies, states that under certain conditions a Taiwan contingency could trigger Article 5 of NATO, under which an attack against any member of the alliance is considered an attack against all members, necessitating a response. Article 6 of the North Atlantic Treaty specifies that an armed attack in the territory of any member in Europe,
LIKE FAMILY: People now treat dogs and cats as family members. They receive the same medical treatments and tests as humans do, a veterinary association official said The number of pet dogs and cats in Taiwan has officially outnumbered the number of human newborns last year, data from the Ministry of Agriculture’s pet registration information system showed. As of last year, Taiwan had 94,544 registered pet dogs and 137,652 pet cats, the data showed. By contrast, 135,571 babies were born last year. Demand for medical care for pet animals has also risen. As of Feb. 29, there were 5,773 veterinarians in Taiwan, 3,993 of whom were for pet animals, statistics from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency showed. In 2022, the nation had 3,077 pediatricians. As of last
XINJIANG: Officials are conducting a report into amending an existing law or to enact a special law to prohibit goods using forced labor Taiwan is mulling an amendment prohibiting the importation of goods using forced labor, similar to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) passed by the US Congress in 2021 that imposed limits on goods produced using forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region. A government official who wished to remain anonymous said yesterday that as the US customs law explicitly prohibits the importation of goods made using forced labor, in 2021 it passed the specialized UFLPA to limit the importation of cotton and other goods from China’s Xinjiang Uyghur region. Taiwan does not have the legal basis to prohibit the importation of goods