President Chen Shui-bian (
"Recently China has actively prepared itself for three types of warfare against Taiwan: psychological, media and legal," Chen said in his keynote speech delivered yesterday at the opening ceremony of the Democratic Pacific Assembly, held at the Grand Hotel in Taipei.
"Besides the possibility of using of force, China is seeking to shake the morale of our armed forces personnel and undermine the psychological preparedness of our people by taking advantage of a political system that is still undergoing democratic transition," Chen said, adding that China's intention to enact a unification law is also an attempt trying to realize the "One China" principle through legal means.
During Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's (溫家寶) visit to Europe in May, Wen said that China may write a unification law, of which will serve as the legal basis for using military force against what China views as separatist movements.
"The draft bill attempts to provide a so-called legal basis for the use of force against Taiwan in the future," Chen said.
He also said that if the law comes into being, Taiwan's democratic development will be at stake and the democratic development of other nations in the region will be hindered.
"It is an issue of grave concern for Taiwan and all countries in the Pacific Rim," Chen said.
Calling Pacific nations' attention to the threats poses by China to democracies in the region, Chen expressed hope that democratic countries on either side of the Pacific Ocean could form what he called Democratic Pacific Union (DPU) better safeguard peace, security, freedom, democracy and economic prosperity in the region.
"The formation of the DPU would provide a platform for dialogue and cooperation on both sides of the Pacific Ocean and establish the framework for a security and economic alliance between Taiwan and other democracies across the Pacific," Chen said, adding that Taiwan remains resolute in pursuing peace and democracy in the face of China's international diplomatic isolation and military intimidation.
Visiting Salvadoran President Antonio Saca gave a speech at the event yesterday.
In it, Saca lauded Taiwan and said despite many setbacks, the country had become a model for developing democratic countries.
Saca also said that although it is a democratic nation which plays an important role in the world economy, "Taiwan still suffers in many situations that are hard for other nations to imagine, such as its exclusion from the United Nations and a rejection by the international community."
"Unlike El Salvador, which has a voice in the United Nations, Taiwan is denied of its right to speak as a sovereign country, shut out from participating in organizations and rejected by the international community," Saca said, adding that the difficult conditions Taiwan is in threatens regional peace and security.
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
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