The DPP legislative caucus yesterday showed outrage at China's blockage of the nation's bid to join the World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer.
"Everyone in this country should tongue lash Beijing because it has silenced Taiwan's voice," DPP Legislator Chiu Chui-chen (
"The Chinese authorities have pulled out all the stops to exclude Taiwan from the UN health body while, in other issues, pretending to be the country's best friend," Chiu said.
PHOTO: CHIEN JUNG-FUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
DPP Legislator Lai Ching-te (
"The country suffered a similar setback when Beijing announced its new diplomatic ties with Nauru on the day that President Chen Shui-bian (
"This shut out should force the government to try and walk its own path," he said.
DPP Legislator Tang Bi-a (唐碧娥) said, "This is not an issue about politics but about human rights. China's objection to Taiwan's desire to join the international effort against SARS is scandalous."
Tang added that that the public should show its disgust over China's dirty tricks by boycotting Chinese products.
Earlier yesterday, the TSU legislative caucus also hit out at China's actions at the WHO.
The TSU said that Beijing's action was "dictatorial and shameless."
"The public should understand the nature of the Chinese government and stop harboring fantasies about China," the TSU legislative caucus whip, Chien Lin Whei-jun (
The TSU called for a condemnation by both ruling and opposition lawmakers over China's blocking tactics.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
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