Government officials here have mixed views about whether China would ask US Vice President Dick Cheney for promises on Taiwan as he begins a three-day visit to Beijing and Shanghai today.
Cheney's visit would be the highest-level official exchange between China and the US since President Chen Shui-bian (
Taiwan, human rights, trade and North Korea are expected to top Cheney's agenda in Beijing. He is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao (
US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who earlier this month defended the US' sale of advanced radar systems to Taiwan, is among the officials in Cheney's entourage. Beijing says Washington is breaking its promises by selling high-tech weapons to Taiwan.
Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman Alexander Huang (黃介正) said Wolfowitz is visiting China for several reasons, but explaining the US arms sales to Taipei would not be part of his mission.
Two US China experts, David Lampton and Kenneth Lieberthal, in their article "Heading Off the Next War" published in the Washington Post yesterday said Cheney is likely to reiterate the traditional American stance on cross-strait relations.
"It appears he will follow the traditional American path of recommending cross-strait dialogue and warning of severe consequences should military conflict flare," the article said.
Cheney will also assure Beijing that Washington opposes unilateral independence for Taiwan, according to the article.
"While voicing these essential elements of a prudent message, the vice president also should signal both Beijing and Taipei that America is prepared for new thinking in the search for peace and growth in the region," the article said.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Chung-hsin (陳忠信), head of the DPP's mainland affairs department, said he believed North Korea, not Taiwan, would be the focus of Cheney's trip.
The way the China-Taiwan-US trilateral relations, he said, have operated remains basically unchanged since before the election.
Although China expected more promises from the US, Cheney would stick to Washington's "one China" policy by reiterating the three communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act, the lawmaker said.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chang Rong-kung (張榮恭) believes Beijing may demand stronger pledges on Taiwan from the US after hosting the second round of six-way talks on North Korea.
However, Chang said Beijing has to face the fact that the Taiwan issue has been internationalized.
China's respect for Taiwanese people's mainstream opinion will play a critical part in seeking peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Chang 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
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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
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