Government officials and academics yesterday said they doubted an announcement by China's National People's Congress (NPC) that Beijing has no interest in Taiwan's presidential election.
China "has never interfered with elections in Taiwan and also has no interest in the ongoing election," said NPC spokesman Jiang Enzhu (姜恩柱).
The Chinese parliament's new session opens today in Beijing.
"No matter who comes to power after the election, we hope he can accept the `one China' principle, on which basis the two sides of the Taiwan Strait could hold dialogue and negotiations and realize direct links," Jiang said.
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) flatly rejects the "one China" principle, while Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) cleaves to that principle, albeit with an interpretation of his own.
"`One China' refers to the Republic of China, which is Taiwan. There is only one China in the world," Lien has said.
Chang Wu-yen (
"The fact is that China has never been so concerned about an election in Taiwan," Chang said.
Beijing's refusal to renounce the possible use of force against Taiwan is one of the factors causing the US to see China as playing a destabilizing role in the Taiwan Strait, Chang said.
Chang was reacting to comments made on Tuesday by US Secretary of State Colin Powell.
In a speech at the Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based think tank, Powell said: "We do not support Taiwan's independence, and we oppose moves by either side to unilaterally change the status quo."
"In this regard, we also strongly oppose the use of force or its threat across the Taiwan Strait. China's military build-up opposite Taiwan is destabilizing. We urge a posture more conducive to the peaceful resolution of existing disputes," Powell said.
The US is worried about Beijing's refusal to renounce the use of force against Taiwan, Chang said.
While stating that the US adheres firmly to its "one China" policy, Powell also noted the policy is defined by the three communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act.
The Mainland Affairs Council , which has called for China not to attempt to influence the election, has been closely observing the preparations for this year's NPC session but made no public comments on its spokesman's remarks.
A council official, however, said it is unlikely the NPC would come out with ground-breaking cross-strait policies during the session because China wants to avoid drawing a strong reaction from Taiwan ahead of the vote.
Chen Chung-hong (陳崇弘), director of the council's department of information and liaison, said recently that Beijing has strengthened cooperation with think tanks in the US and Europe as part of efforts to reform its international image.
China has devoted large sums to promoting its cross-strait policy in the international community and its businesspeople have sought ties with US officials and academics.
"Chinese businesspeople have great influence on other countries' politics and media because of their business strength. Taiwan needs to pay attention to these people," Chen Chung-hong 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
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
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong would likely strengthen into a typhoon later today as it continues moving westward across the Pacific before heading in Taiwan’s direction next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of 8am, Fung-Wong was about 2,190km east-southeast of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving westward at 25kph and possibly accelerating to 31kph, CWA data showed. The tropical storm is currently over waters east of the Philippines and still far from Taiwan, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said, adding that it could likely strengthen into a typhoon later in the day. It is forecast to reach the South China Sea
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