The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) signed a secret accord before last year's presidential election, paving the way for senior KMT officials to visit China, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus alleged yesterday.
KMT Vice Chairman Chiang Pin-kun's (
The DPP caucus also called on Chiang, who is due back tomorrow, not to sign any agreement with the Chinese government, saying that he could face life imprisonment were he to do so.
PHOTO: LIAO CHENG-HUI, TAIPEI TIMES
DPP caucus Secretary-General Chen Chin-jun (
The parties agreed to arrange meetings for high-ranking KMT officials, including Lien. They also agreed to form a unification committee, and push for direct links and the signing of a peace accord.
Despite Lien's losing the election, the agreement has gradually materialized as evidenced by three recent incidents, Chen said.
The first was Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou's (
Second, the KMT sent a delegation on Monday led by Chiang to visit China with the hope of pushing for cooperation and reconciliation with the CCP.
Chiang's visit will be followed by Lien's visit to China in June, when he is scheduled to hold a summit with Chinese Communist Party Secretary-General Hu Jintao (
Chen said that the KMT owes the public an explanation as to whether the delegation's purpose in visiting China is to "sell out Taiwan."
"I'd like to know what kind of deal the KMT strikes with the CCP, and what it will trade with China for its own gain," he said.
Hsu Kuo-yung (
Article 113 of the Criminal Code stipulates that persons not authorized by the government who take the liberty of signing a contract or agreement with a foreign government are subject to a minimum sentence of seven years in prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
DPP caucus whip Lai Ching-teh (
"I hope the KMT sees clearly what the Chinese government is up to and refrains from falling into the snare set up by China," Lai said.
While over 90 percent of Taiwanese people say they oppose China's "Anti-Secession" Law, and the legislature has passed a resolution condemning the bill, Lai said that the KMT is sending the wrong message to China by sending a delegation there.
In response, KMT Legislator Kuo Su-chun (
"Such a groundless and audacious charge is defamatory and slanderous," she said.
"Instead of dampening our enthusiasm to do something for the country, I hope the DPP government recognize the effort we put in to better cross-strait relations, since it cannot, refuses to or doesn't have the guts to do anything," she said.
While President Chen Shui-bian (
"What the DPP is good at is nothing but fabricating unwarranted accusations and smearing others' reputations," he said.
Three batches of banana sauce imported from the Philippines were intercepted at the border after they were found to contain the banned industrial dye Orange G, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. From today through Sept. 2 next year, all seasoning sauces from the Philippines are to be subject to the FDA’s strictest border inspection, meaning 100 percent testing for illegal dyes before entry is allowed, it said in a statement. Orange G is an industrial coloring agent that is not permitted for food use in Taiwan or internationally, said Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智), head of the FDA’s Northern Center for
LOOKING NORTH: The base would enhance the military’s awareness of activities in the Bashi Channel, which China Coast Guard ships have been frequenting, an expert said The Philippine Navy on Thursday last week inaugurated a forward operating base in the country’s northern most province of Batanes, which at 185km from Taiwan would be strategically important in a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Northern Luzon Command Commander Lieutenant General Fernyl Buca as saying that the base in Mahatao would bolster the country’s northern defenses and response capabilities. The base is also a response to the “irregular presence this month of armed” of China Coast Guard vessels frequenting the Bashi Channel in the Luzon Strait just south of Taiwan, the paper reported, citing a
UNDER PRESSURE: The report cited numerous events that have happened this year to show increased coercion from China, such as military drills and legal threats The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aims to reinforce its “one China” principle and the idea that Taiwan belongs to the People’s Republic of China by hosting celebratory events this year for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the “retrocession” of Taiwan and the establishment of the UN, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in its latest report to the Legislative Yuan. Taking advantage of the significant anniversaries, Chinese officials are attempting to assert China’s sovereignty over Taiwan through interviews with international news media and cross-strait exchange events, the report said. Beijing intends to reinforce its “one China” principle
A total lunar eclipse, an astronomical event often referred to as a “blood moon,” would be visible to sky watchers in Taiwan starting just before midnight on Sunday night, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said. The phenomenon is also called “blood moon” due to the reddish-orange hue it takes on as the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, completely blocking direct sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. The only light is refracted by the Earth’s atmosphere, and its red wavelengths are bent toward the moon, illuminating it in a dramatic crimson light. Describing the event as the most important astronomical phenomenon
RSS