An annual forum on cross-strait economic development in Hangzhou kicked off with China's Taiwan Affairs Office admonishing investors in Taiwan to steer clear of support for Taiwan's independence.
"It is not permissible for individuals to benefit from cross-strait economic ties and yet remain proponents of Taiwan's independence while [in Taiwan]," Wang Zaixi (王在希), vice minister of the Taiwan Affairs Office, said in a speech yesterday.
"It is very dangerous for Taiwan to think that China would be willing to tolerate Taiwan's independence in order to promote economic development and to host the Olympics," Wang warned.
"Those supporting Taiwan's independence also express at the same time a willingness to develop cross-strait economic relations," Wang said.
He said that this made apparent the duplicity of Taiwan's policy on China, saying that there were different policies for the political and the economic spheres.
According to reports yesterday, the conference attracted roughly 200 participants, more than in previous years. The Xinhua News Agency referred to the forum as an instance of important cross-strait exchanges. It is also the first forum on cross-strait relations organized by the Chinese government since President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) inauguration in May.
The forum is organized each year by a research institute affiliated with China's Taiwan Affairs Office.
The annual forum was attended by several high-profile Taiwanese investors, including Shin Kong Financial chairman Eugene Wu (吳東進), Formosa Plastics Corp (台塑) president Lee Chih-tsuen (李志村) and Chinese Federation of Labor vice chairmen Preston Chen (陳武雄).
Several former Taiwanese government officials were in attendance yesterday. Former Control Yuan president Wang Tso-jung (王作榮), former minister of justice Liao Cheng-hao (廖正豪) and New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming (郁慕明) were all present.
China Airlines, Evergreen International Corporation, Uni-President Group, and Yulon Motors Co also sent representatives to the forum.
Wang also addressed the issue of establishing direct links across the Taiwan Strait, saying that it was an internal matter.
"Direct links are a cross-strait matter. They are an internal affair concerning the Chinese people on both sides of the strait. It is not an issue between two countries," Wang said.
He said that China welcomed non-governmental organizations or enterprises in Taiwan to discuss the matter with China as long as it is in accordance with principles of establishing direct and two-way links of mutual benefit.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it