Premier Yu Shyi-kun yesterday appealed to the international community to maintain its concern for the development of human rights and democracy in China.
He also said the Chinese people were welcome to learn from the Taiwan experience, especially the holding of direct elections.
"The Chinese people should enjoy the same universal rights of democracy, diversity and freedom that Taiwan upholds," Yu said. "The government sincerely invites the Chinese people to bear witness to Taiwan's democratic system, including the legislative elections at the end of the year, which can lay the foundations for China's democratization and peaceful ascent [onto the world stage]."
Marking the 15th anniversary of 1989's Tiananmen Square Massacre on behalf of Yu, Cabinet Spokesman Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) urged Beijing to allow truth to be restored to China's historical record.
"The incident's significance lies in the fact that people on both sides of the Strait are trying to bring about democratic systems. Democracy, which has already become a part of `Taiwanese values,' can also become a core value of Chinese culture," he said.
"Only a diverse and democratic society can meet the expectations of the people -- on both sides," Chen said.
Chen noted remarks by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) in his inauguration speech that the first two decades of this century would be crucial for national development and for China's liberalization.
"Yet," Chen Chi-mai said, "although this year is the 15th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, the behavior of Beijing, which has included a military crackdown on civilians in 1989, Internet restrictions and its general dictatorial manner, remains unchanged.
"Moreover, the freedom and democracy requested by the Chinese people has not been brought about and the country's human rights record has failed to make concrete progress," he said.
Chen Chi-mai said that Taiwan hoped China would undertake a thorough review of policies to protect the basic freedoms of speech and assembly.
"President Chen suggested that both sides should form a dynamic peace framework for cross-strait interaction and maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait ... [They] should also improve cultural and economic interaction, especially the three direct links," he said.
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
INCREASED CAPACITY: The flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays would leave Singapore in the morning and Taipei in the afternoon Singapore Airlines is adding four supplementary flights to Taipei per week until May to meet increased tourist and business travel demand, the carrier said on Friday. The addition would raise the number of weekly flights it operates to Taipei to 18, Singapore Airlines Taiwan general manager Timothy Ouyang (歐陽漢源) said. The airline has recorded a steady rise in tourist and business travel to and from Taipei, and aims to provide more flexible travel arrangements for passengers, said Ouyang, who assumed the post in July last year. From now until Saturday next week, four additional flights would depart from Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, Friday
The Ministry of National Defense yesterday reported the return of large-scale Chinese air force activities after their unexplained absence for more than two weeks, which had prompted speculation regarding Beijing’s motives. China usually sends fighter jets, drones and other military aircraft around the nation on a daily basis. Interruptions to such routine are generally caused by bad weather. The Ministry of National Defense said it had detected 26 Chinese military aircraft in the Taiwan Strait over the previous 24 hours. It last reported that many aircraft on Feb. 25, when it spotted 30 aircraft, saying Beijing was carrying out another “joint combat
Taiwan successfully defended its women’s 540 kilogram title and won its first-ever men’s 640 kg title at the 2026 World Indoor Tug of War Championships in Taipei yesterday. In the women’s event, Taiwan’s eight-person squad reached the final following a round-robin preliminary round and semifinals featuring teams from Ukraine, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Basque Country and South Korea. In the finals, they swept the Basque team 2-0, giving the team composed mainly of National Taiwan Normal University students and graduates its second championship in a row, and its fourth in five years. Team captain
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