President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen made the announcement after meeting with representatives from opposition parties at the Presidential Office yesterday afternoon.
The participants also agreed that the government needs more time before making a final decision on issuing a state of emergency in the country, which has been severely disrupted by the outbreak of the flu-like disease.
"The participants shared the view that the president should be given full jurisdiction to make a decision on the announcement and they also believe that government agencies will conduct thorough reviews for the evaluation," Secretary General to the Presidential Office Chiou Yi-jen (邱義仁) told a news conference after the meeting.
The meeting was scheduled by the president in a bid to gather together all top opposition leaders -- including KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
However the two chairmen were absent at the meeting. KMT Vice Chairman Lin Chun-chi (
Chen, concluding his meeting with the representatives, said that the participants also urged the media to play a helping role in the fight against SARS.
The media should conduct more checks on SARS news stories and ensure the information is credible to prevent generating further panic in society, the president said.
All parties called for the public to be well prepared for a long-term confrontation to the spreading epidemic, according to the president.
"In this case, every member of the society has no right to be apathetic to other's misfortune or trouble," Chen told the public.
Other political leaders invited to yesterday's discussion included TSU Chairman Huang Chu-wen (
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
The first two F-16V Bock 70 jets purchased from the US are expected to arrive in Taiwan around Double Ten National Day, which is on Oct. 10, a military source said yesterday. Of the 66 F-16V Block 70 jets purchased from the US, the first completed production in March, the source said, adding that since then three jets have been produced per month. Although there were reports of engine defects, the issue has been resolved, they said. After the jets arrive in Taiwan, they must first pass testing by the air force before they would officially become Taiwan’s property, they said. The air force
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
PAWSITIVE IMPACT: A shop owner said that while he adopted cats to take care of rodents, they have also attracted younger visitors who also buy his dried goods In Taipei’s Dadaocheng (大稻埕), cats lounging in shops along Dihua Street do more than nap amid the scent of dried seafood. Many have become beloved fixtures who double as photography models, attracting visitors and helping boost sales in one of the capital’s most historic quarters. A recent photo contest featuring more than a dozen shop cats drew more than 2,200 submissions, turning everyday cat-spotting into a friendly competition that attracted amateur and professional photographers. “It’s rare to see cats standing, so when it suddenly did, it felt like a lucky cat,” said Sabrina Hsu (徐淳蔚), who won the NT$10,000 top prize in
RSS