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 (
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.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) today said that if South Korea does not reply appropriately to its request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, it would take corresponding measures to alter how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. The ministry said that it changed the nationality for South Koreans on Taiwan’s Alien Resident Certificates from “Korea” to “South Korea” on March 1, in a gesture of goodwill and based on the
The New Taipei Metro's Sanyin Line and the eastern extension of the Taipei Metro's Tamsui-Xinyi Line (Red Line) are scheduled to begin operations in June, the National Development Council said today. The Red Line, which terminates at Xiangshan Station, would be connected by the 1.4km extension to a new eastern terminal, Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station, while the Sanyin Line would link New Taipei City's Tucheng and Yingge stations via Sanxia District (三峽). The council gave the updates at a council meeting reviewing progress on public construction projects for this year. Taiwan's annual public infrastructure budget would remain at NT$800 billion (US$25.08 billion), with NT$97.3
Taiwanese officials were shown the first of 66 F-16V fighter jets purchased by Taiwan from the United States, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday, adding the aircraft has completed an initial flight test and is expected to be delivered later this year. A delegation led by Deputy Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) visited Lockheed Martin’s F-16 C/D Block 70 (also known as F-16V) assembly line in South Carolina on March 16 to view the aircraft. The jet will undergo a final acceptance flight in the US before being delivered to Taiwan, the
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