Taiwan has never been, and will never be, any part of China, regardless what it claims in its "anti-secession law," Vice President Annette Lu (
"Based on historical facts, Taiwan has never been -- in the past or in the future -- any part of China. No matter what China is to stipulate in the `anti-secession law,' it won't change this fact," Lu said.
Beijing's intention to make such a law can only make the international community understand that China's bullying of Taiwan will have no end, according to Lu.
The vice president made the remarks yesterday while answering reporters' questions regarding Beijing's plan to pass legislation of a law allegedly aimed to serve as China's legal claim to Taiwan.
China has a Constitution, and Taiwan has one too, Lu said.
"They have their renminbi, while we have our New Taiwan dollar and Taiwan's young men don't take national service in China. With an `anti-secession law,' even if China could claim sovereignty over Tibet or Xinjiang, they can't claim it over Taiwan," Lu said.
Citing Beijing's so-called "three-phrase war," namely a media war, psychological war and legal war against Taiwan, China is now beginning the third phrase of this war, according to Lu.
"The government and the opposition must unite and cooperate," Lu said, adding, "There is only one Taiwan, and we should work together to love this land."
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
"The intention to make an anti-secession law is unnecessary and unwise," Ma said.
"President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) campaign language during the legislative elections might have gone too far, and might have worsened cross-strait tensions. But China's plan to make such a law also seems to be going too far," he said.
China's intended legislation shows it has lost patience with Taiwan, Ma said .
Since China has never been a country to follow the rule of law, it does not need a law if it really wants to invade Taiwan, he added.
"Therefore, such a law is not necessary," Ma also said.
The front pages of state-run Chinese newspapers carried the story about the leadership's plan to draft the law yesterday, but it did not refer to Taiwan specifically.
China had earlier floated a "reunification" law, rather than an "anti-secession" law. Xinhua news agency did not explain the change.
Some Taiwanese analysts said the new draft of the law was passive in nature, and could be viewed legally obliging the Communist Party to prevent Taiwan from declaring independence. They also said it did not necessarily mean Beijing would push urgently for unification.
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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