The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) continued to solicit support from all sectors of society to take part in a nationwide demonstration set for March 26 to vehemently oppose Beijing's proposed anti-secession law, DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (
Su called for people of all ages and walks of life to take part in the rally to say "no" to the anti-secession law targeting Taiwan and assert the nation's democratic will. The anti-secession law is expected to be enacted by the Chinese National People's Congress at its ongoing annual session which closes Monday.
Su visited several private groups yesterday to try to broaden the support base for the DPP-initiated nationwide rally, in which some 500,000 people, including and former President Lee Teng-hui (
Among the business executives that Su visited yesterday was Taiwan Federation of Industry Chairman Lee Cheng-chia (李成家), who said that members of his federation will throw their support behind the DPP in its efforts to lead people to oppose the law, which allows "non-peaceful means" to be used should Taiwan move toward permanent or formal independence.
Meanwhile, Lai Ching-teh (
Lai said it hopes that opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (
Responding to such appeals, KMT Legislator Kuo Su-chun (
Lai further said that the DPP legislative caucus will also initiate a resolution soon to ask all party leaders to take part in a leadership summit to jointly craft countermeasures against the enactment of the anti-secession law.
The March 26 nationwide demonstration will be the largest-ever that the Taiwan people hold to say "no" to China, Lai added.
DPP Secretary-General Lee Yi-yang (
Lee pointed out that the tensions in cross-strait relations lie in Beijing's refusal to recognize Taiwan's sovereignty, its threat of force and deployment of missiles which threaten the peace and security of the Taiwan Strait and its harsh methods used to squeeze Taiwan.
LOW RISK: Most nations do not extradite people accused of political crimes, and the UN says extradition can only happen if the act is a crime in both countries, an official said China yesterday issued wanted notices for two Taiwanese influencers, accusing them of committing “separatist acts” by criticizing Beijing, amid broadening concerns over China’s state-directed transnational repression. The Quanzhou Public Security Bureau in a notice posted online said police are offering a reward of up to 25,000 yuan (US$3,523) for information that could contribute to the investigation or apprehension of pro-Taiwanese independence YouTuber Wen Tzu-yu (溫子渝),who is known as Pa Chiung (八炯) online, and rapper Chen Po-yuan (陳柏源). Wen and Chen are suspected of spreading content that supported secession from China, slandered Chinese policies that benefit Taiwanese and discrimination against Chinese spouses of
ALIGNED THINKING: Taiwan and Japan have a mutual interest in trade, culture and engineering, and can work together for stability, Cho Jung-tai said Taiwan and Japan are two like-minded countries willing to work together to form a “safety barrier” in the Indo-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday said at the opening ceremony of the 35th Taiwan-Japan Modern Engineering and Technology Symposium in Taipei. Taiwan and Japan are close geographically and closer emotionally, he added. Citing the overflowing of a barrier lake in the Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) in September, Cho said the submersible water level sensors given by Japan during the disaster helped Taiwan monitor the lake’s water levels more accurately. Japan also provided a lot of vaccines early in the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic,
PROMOTION: Travelers who want a free stopover must book their flights with designated travel agents, such as Lion Travel, Holiday Tours, Cola Tour and Life Tours Air Canada yesterday said it is offering Taiwanese travelers who are headed to North America free stopovers if they transit though airports in Japan and South Korea. The promotion was launched in response to a potential rise in demand for flights to North America in June and July next year, when the US, Canada and Mexico are scheduled to jointly host the FIFA World Cup, Air Canada said. Air Canada offers services to 13 of the 16 host cities of the tournament’s soccer games, including Toronto and Vancouver; Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston; Dallas; Houston;
The US approved the possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet spare and repair parts for US$330 million, the Pentagon said late yesterday, marking the first such potential transaction since US President Donald Trump took office in January. "The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient's fleet of F-16, C-130," and other aircraft, the Pentagon said in a statement. Trump previously said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has told him he would not invade Taiwan while the Republican leader is in office. The announcement of the possible arms