Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) told lawmakers yesterday that Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan's (連戰) calling President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) on Monday may not necessarily legalize his meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) and any potential agreements he might ink with Hu in Beijing.
"He said he will call the president and talk about this matter. Well, by law, calling the president and gaining authorization from the government are two totally different scenarios," Hsieh said.
"His promise to call the president before taking off for China is a polite and friendly move. We welcome and appreciate that. However, it has nothing to do with obeying the law," the premier said.
Hsieh comments were in response to Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Chao-lung's (陳朝龍) question about whether Lien's promise to call the president would be regarded as having gained authorization from the government.
According to the Act Governing Relations Between Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (兩岸人民關係條例), anyone who wishes to represent Taiwan in agreements or other arrangements with the Chinese government must first obtain authorization from the Mainland Affairs Council.
"Talking to the president is not equal to gaining authorization from the council," Hsieh said.
He reiterated that any citizen's plan -- including Lien and People First Party Chairman James Soong's (宋楚瑜) -- to travel anywhere in the world would be accepted and approved by the government except for members of the police, the military and others who are banned for traveling to China.
"To be precise, the government will not interfere with anyone's travel plans as long as it does not concern the nation," Hsieh said.
"We, therefore, will definitely not interfere Lien's or Soong's plans or ban them from traveling. That would be totally illegal," he said.
Hsieh said that Lien's promise to call the president is simple politeness to the government and the country, since Lien is the chairman of an important political party.
"His promise shows that he recognizes and respects the president, the government and the country. We are glad and appreciate it," Hsieh said.
During his conversation with lawmakers, Hsieh urged the public to consider why the Chinese government would welcome Taiwan's politicians to visit China at this point in time.
"After our March 26 rally against their `Anti-Secession' Law, there has been a great pressure on the Chinese government, forcing it to show a sincere and friendly attitude toward the Taiwanese people," the premier said. "We must be careful of that."
The Executive Yuan yesterday announced that registration for a one-time universal NT$10,000 cash handout to help people in Taiwan survive US tariffs and inflation would start on Nov. 5, with payouts available as early as Nov. 12. Who is eligible for the handout? Registered Taiwanese nationals are eligible, including those born in Taiwan before April 30 next year with a birth certificate. Non-registered nationals with residence permits, foreign permanent residents and foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens with residence permits also qualify for the handouts. For people who meet the eligibility requirements, but passed away between yesterday and April 30 next year, surviving family members
The German city of Hamburg on Oct. 14 named a bridge “Kaohsiung-Brucke” after the Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung. The footbridge, formerly known as F566, is to the east of the Speicherstadt, the world’s largest warehouse district, and connects the Dar-es-Salaam-Platz to the Brooktorpromenade near the Port of Hamburg on the Elbe River. Timo Fischer, a Free Democratic Party member of the Hamburg-Mitte District Assembly, in May last year proposed the name change with support from members of the Social Democratic Party and the Christian Democratic Union. Kaohsiung and Hamburg in 1999 inked a sister city agreement, but despite more than a quarter-century of
Taiwanese officials are courting podcasters and influencers aligned with US President Donald Trump as they grow more worried the US leader could undermine Taiwanese interests in talks with China, people familiar with the matter said. Trump has said Taiwan would likely be on the agenda when he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) next week in a bid to resolve persistent trade tensions. China has asked the White House to officially declare it “opposes” Taiwanese independence, Bloomberg reported last month, a concession that would mark a major diplomatic win for Beijing. President William Lai (賴清德) and his top officials
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday expressed “grave concerns” after Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (黃循財) reiterated the city-state’s opposition to “Taiwanese independence” during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang (李強). In Singapore on Saturday, Wong and Li discussed cross-strait developments, the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “Prime Minister Wong reiterated that Singapore has a clear and consistent ‘one China’ policy and is opposed to Taiwan independence,” it said. MOFA responded that it is an objective fact and a common understanding shared by many that the Republic of China (ROC) is an independent, sovereign nation, with world-leading
RSS