The PFP yesterday turned down a pro-independence group's invitation to sign a petition promoting the use of the name Taiwan in the country's bid to join the UN.
"The nation's name is the Republic of China, there's no doubt about that. So why the need to change?" said PFP Deputy Secretary-General Liao Chang-sung (
The alliance visited the PFP headquarters to invite the party to join a rally in September promoting Taiwan as the official name of the nation and several other initiatives.
"With our goal of rectifying the name of Taiwan, we asked the PFP to sign our petition to push for an amendment to the Constitution, a referendum on the topic of the nation's official name and our planned rally," said Peter Wang (
The alliance is planning to hold a rally on Sept. 6 to press for the country to apply to join the UN under the name Taiwan. Wang said that about 100 civil groups had expressed their support for the rally.
Liao said his party respected the alliance's decision to hold the rally but would not support it.
Wang said he was disappointed, but not surprised, by Liao's response.
"The negative answer from the PFP is expected although we hope that, between now and September before the event takes place, the PFP will change its mind," Wang said.
Yesterday was the alliance's first visit to the PFP, which favors eventual unification between Taiwan and China.
Wang said that the group will visit the DPP, TSU and KMT next month to solicit support for their cause.
"We sincerely hope that all parties will support our call to rectify the name of Taiwan," Wang said.
The Taipei Department of Health yesterday said it has launched a probe into a restaurant at Far Eastern Sogo Xinyi A13 Department Store after a customer died of suspected food poisoning. A preliminary investigation on Sunday found missing employee health status reports and unsanitary kitchen utensils at Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) in the department store’s basement food court, the department said. No direct relationship between the food poisoning death and the restaurant was established, as no food from the day of the incident was available for testing and no other customers had reported health complaints, it said, adding that the investigation is ongoing. Later
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