The Executive Yuan yesterday dismissed China's claim that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) was a threat to Asian stability, saying that China is the biggest threat in the region and that there is no chance the government will adhere to a "one country, two systems" model.
"China has been ambitious in expanding its military might in the region and that has been the cause of much concern from [its] neighbors," Cabinet Spokesman Chen Chi-mai (
He said that China has raked up a double-digit increase to its military spending every year since 1995 and has deployed over 500 ballistic missiles targeting Taiwan, which seriously threatens security across the Taiwan Strait.
To prove his point, Chen Chi-mai said that China's military expenses were estimated to be between US$50 billion and US$70 billion annually, ranking it third-highest in defense spending after the US and Russia.
Chen Chi-mai made the remarks in response to the statement by Li Weiyi (
The Chinese government also yesterday made its first official response to last Saturday's legislative elections. At a TAO press conference, Li denounced Chen Shui-bian's moves toward Taiwan's independence as exacerbating tensions with China. Li also said the president was a dangerous politician who considers China an enemy and puts the safety and livelihood of Taiwan's people at risk.
"The independence activities by the Chen administration are the main source of chaos in the Asia-Pacific and have worsened cross-strait tensions," he said.
Li also claimed that Saturday's election results proved that most Taiwanese favored peace with China and that they were disillusioned with the separatist activities of Chen Shui-bian.
Dismissing Li's criticism, Chen Chi-mai yesterday called on Bei-jing to not misinterpret the result of Saturday's polls because it was not conducive to cross-strait relations.
"There are always winners and losers in an election, but no matter what the result is, it's how democracy operates," he said.
"The election not only re-affirms the nation's sovereignty but also proves once again that there is no market for the `one country, two systems' model," he said.
Chen Chi-mai also said that the pledges made by President Chen during his inauguration speech and National Day address remained unchanged.
They include the "four noes" and plans for reforming the Constitution.
He also urged the Chinese leadership to resume negotiations on the opening of direct transportation links and charter flights for the Lunar New Year, as they are purely economic issues and not political.
Responding to Li's invitation to Taiwanese individuals and politicians to visit China, Chen Chi-mai called on Beijing to stop instituting political barriers to hamper cross-strait negotiations. He said the 1992 meeting in Hong Kong could be the basis to return to the negotiating table for a new round of cross-strait talks.
Li said the Chinese government welcomes any Taiwanese individual or group, including the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party (PFP), to visit China and exchange views on such issues as how to better develop cross-strait relations and facilitate peaceful unification.
Quoting remarks made by KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) at the KMT's Central Standing Committee meeting yesterday, KMT spokesman Chang Jung-kung (張榮恭) said Lien presently has no plans to visit China.
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
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
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
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
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