The US State Department has denied reports that the Bush administration is preparing a review of its policy toward Taiwan should President Chen Shui-bian (
"Taiwan is a vibrant democracy, and we support the exercise of democratic rights in Taiwan," department spokesmen Adam Ereli told reporters in Washington, denying that any policy review is in the works.
"As far as policy changes in the works, no, nothing is in the works," he said.
Responding to reports that the US is concerned over prospects for Chen's re-election, Ereli said, "This isn't about personalities, it is about policies. So the Taiwan people will have their way. They will elect the leaders that they believe best represent them."
"And we will work with those leaders in partnership for a peaceful resolution of the cross-strait tensions through dialogue," he said.
WAIT AND SEE
Ereli reserved comment about the referendum.
"Let's just wait and see," he said.
He refused to characterize the referendum as a failure of US efforts to block the poll, which Washington has said could affect the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
"I would characterize it as a process that we are working on with both sides to this dispute to ensure that it is resolved through dialogue and not as a result of unilateral action," he said.
Meanwhile, three dozen members of the US House of Representatives have issued an open letter to the people of Taiwan voicing their strong support for the referendum.
Some people view the letter as a rebuke to President George W. Bush, who effectively prevented Congress from supporting the referendum through a formal resolution of Congress.
The 23 million people of Taiwan "have earned the right to decide for yourselves the issues affecting your well-being and security," the letter said.
DEMOCRATIC RIGHT
"You have earned the right to hold exclusive responsibility for determining the future of Taiwan and to exercise democratic processes. This include holding referenda free from intimidation or threat of force from any country, including communist China," it said.
The letter, which was circulated only late last week, gained 36 signatories, nearly twice the number the authors had expected. The letter was written by Representative Peter Deutsch, a Democrat and Representative Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican and sent to their colleagues for their signatures.
While the signature campaign was stopped so the letter could be publicized in time for today's elections, aides to Deutsch say lawmakers are still calling to join the list, and an "addendum" may be issued to add new names.
CHINESE OPPOSITION
The Chinese Embassy in Washington tried hard to squelch the effort, but congressional staffers said that backfired, serving instead to pull in additional signatories.
In Taipei, a half dozen Taiwanese-Americans from New York City in town to vote in the election, joined some 30 Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators in a pro-Chen rally in front of the Mitsukoshi department store across from the Taipei Main Train Station.
The group was part of a New York contingent numbering more than 300 who are in the country for the election, according to the group's spokesman, Abraham Hsu.
All of them, he said, are in favor of Chen.
`TAIWAN IS TAIWAN'
"We are here because A-bian is recognized for reform and renewal. The Chinese here, they want to be unified. We don't want that. Taiwan is Taiwan. One China, one Taiwan. That's why we're here," he told the Taipei Times.
The legislators started their rally with a march from the Legislative Yuan immediately after the body failed to approve a measure advancing a constitutional reform proposal when one group of independents balked.
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
Temperatures are forecast to drop steadily as a continental cold air mass moves across Taiwan, with some areas also likely to see heavy rainfall, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. From today through early tomorrow, a cold air mass would keep temperatures low across central and northern Taiwan, and the eastern half of Taiwan proper, with isolated brief showers forecast along Keelung’s north coast, Taipei and New Taipei City’s mountainous areas and eastern Taiwan, it said. Lows of 11°C to 15°C are forecast in central and northern Taiwan, Yilan County, and the outlying Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties, and 14°C to 17°C
STEERING FAILURE: The first boat of its class is experiencing teething issues as it readies for acceptance by the navy, according to a recent story about rudder failure The Hai Kun (海鯤), the nation’s first locally built submarine, allegedly suffered a total failure of stern hydraulic systems during the second round of sea acceptance trials on June 26, and sailors were forced to manually operate the X-rudder to turn the submarine and return to port, news Web site Mirror Daily reported yesterday. The report said that tugboats following the Hai Kun assisted the submarine in avoiding collisions with other ships due to the X-rudder malfunctioning. At the time of the report, the submarine had completed its trials and was scheduled to begin diving and surfacing tests in shallow areas. The X-rudder,
RSS