In response to PFP Chairman James Soong's (
"Everyone in Taiwan is free to go to China since Taiwan is a democratic society," Su said. "But I once again call on them to respect the country's laws when it comes to matters involving the government's authority."
On the question of whether there will be another meeting between President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Soong before Soong's trip to China, Su said he is not aware of Soong's intentions, but that but the more communication between politicians and the government, the better off the country will be.
Echoing Su's remark, DPP legislative whip Lai Ching-teh (
Lai said he thinks it likely that Lien will indeed make a visit to China, after he was invited by Chinese President Hu Jintao (
Lien is set to visit China later this month. The visit will make Lien the first KMT chairman to set foot on Chinese soil since the KMT withdrew to Taiwan more than five decades ago. Soong will likely visit Beijing in early May, also at the invitation of Hu.
Meanwhile, the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) suggested yesterday that Soong hold a second meeting with President Chen to get government authorization before he visits China. TSU whip Lo Chih-ming (
The TSU is opposed to visits by political party leaders to China without government authorization because such visits, even if made in private capacities, erode Taiwan's sovereignty and undermine the president's legal status as head of state, Lo said.
Chen and Soong met on Feb. 24 and clinched a 10-point agreement pledging, among other things, to maintain the national title of the Republic of China and not to declare Taiwanese independence, in a move to mitigate cross-strait tensions.
TSU Legislator Ho Min-hao (
The first two F-16V Bock 70 jets purchased from the US are expected to arrive in Taiwan around Double Ten National Day, which is on Oct. 10, a military source said yesterday. Of the 66 F-16V Block 70 jets purchased from the US, the first completed production in March, the source said, adding that since then three jets have been produced per month. Although there were reports of engine defects, the issue has been resolved, they said. After the jets arrive in Taiwan, they must first pass testing by the air force before they would officially become Taiwan’s property, they said. The air force
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
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STRIKE: Some travel agencies in Taiwan said that they were aware of the situation in South Korea, and that group tours to the country were proceeding as planned A planned strike by airport personnel in South Korea has not affected group tours to the country from Taiwan, travel agencies said yesterday. They added that they were closely monitoring the situation. Personnel at 15 airports, including Seoul’s Incheon and Gimpo airports, are to go on strike. They announced at a news conference on Tuesday that the strike would begin on Friday next week and continue until the Mid-Autumn Festival next month. Some travel agencies in Taiwan, including Cola Tour, Lion Travel, SET Tour and ezTravel, said that they were aware of the situation in South Korea, and that group
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