A US expert on China affairs said yesterday that he thinks President Chen Shui-bian (
Ross Terrill, a professor at Harvard University's Fairbank Center for East Asian Research, is in Taipei to attend a seminar on Northeast Asia's future political and military development. Terrill was scheduled to meet with Chen today.
Terrill said that he would suggest that Chen slow the pace of drafting and introducing a new constitution because "writing a new constitution is not as simple as giving the people a new car or a new house."
Chen has said on several occasions since his March 20 re-election that he will honor his campaign promise to write a new constitution in 2006, for implementation in 2008 through a referendum. Beijing has blasted Chen's plan and regards it as a step toward declaring Taiwan's independence -- a move that could provoke a military attack by Beijing.
If Beijing does attack Taiwan, Terrill said, it would inflict grave losses on China, a worst-case scenario that is unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future.
Nevertheless, he said, Taiwan must maintain its capability to defend itself.
Since Chen has pledged to be a president for all the Taiwanese people, Terrill said, he must take the well-being and opinion of all Taiwanese people into account while carrying out his reform agenda.
Terrill said that even though Taiwan needs a new constitution suitable to its present status, Beijing's leaders do not necessarily understand this need.
For China, Terrill said, changes to the Constitution would affect Beijing's theory that Taiwan is an integral part of China.
For Taiwan's long-term development, Terrill said that Chen should give priority for the moment to addressing Taiwan's social and economic development issues.
Terrill said that although Chen won re-election, he must ascertain the people's true wishes before moving toward writing a new constitution.
Terrill said that he does not think the US government will forever insist on the "one China" policy.
He said developments in Hong Kong under Beijing's rule have prompted some politicians in Washington to dislike the idea of "one China."
Terrill said the US government has consistently stressed that Taiwan's future, regardless of unification or independence, should be determined by the people of Taiwan themselves.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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