Local pro-Taiwan independence activists yesterday said that China is the troublemaker in the Taiwan Strait and suggested a new Constitution as a response to China's drafting the "Anti-independence Law," a secession law that could provide the legal basis for using force against Taiwan.
"We actually do not have to worry about that too much because it is China's law, not ours. And their law enforcement offices do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan," said Chen Lung-chu (陳隆志), president and CEO of the Taiwan New Century Foundation (台灣新世紀文教基金會).
PHOTO: LIU HSING-TEH, TAIPEI TIMES
According to Chen, China's drafting of the "Anti-independence Law" is to legalize its potential military strikes against Taiwan in the future. However, he also said that China's new law is only effective within its own territory. Taiwan has never been a part of its territory, so no matter what law it uses, it is useless.
Chen made his remarks yesterday at the beginning of a seminar organized by the foundation. He said that the Taiwanese people should actually respect China's establishment of the new law.
"The real relationship between us [Beijing and Taipei] should be to respect each other and help each other. However, unfortunately they [China] never give up using force against Taiwan, although we have more than once tried to show our sincerity," Chen said.
"We are two different countries. Taiwan is an independent country. This is a fact and it is very clear," he continued. Former National Security Council senior advisor and former Taiwan Solidarity Union secretary-general Su Chin-chiang (蘇進強) also echoed Chen's remarks at the seminar.
"What we need is constructive and cooperative thoughts and attitudes, instead of challenging each other like this," Su said.
In the meantime, Su also endorsed the pan-green camp's idea to draft a new Constitution in 2006.
"A new Constitution will protect our country," Su said. "Our current Constitution was drafted in China for Chinese people. However, we do not own that soil any more and we need something for Taiwanese people, not the Chinese."
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
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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
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