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 (
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
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