Speaking on the eve of his landmark trip to China, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) said yesterday that he is not going to bargain and emphasized that there are no limits to the topics he may cover during his anticipated meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), who is also Chinese Communist Party (CCP) head .
Lien emphasized that his trip to China from today until May 3 is being made on an individual basis and as a representative of the KMT.
He sidestepped questions about if and how he plans to report his trip's results to the government, what topics he plans to discuss during his meeting with Hu on Friday, and whether it has been established that his meeting with Hu will take place under the "one China" principle.
PHOTO: CHIEN JUNG-FENG, TAIPEI TIMES
He said he believed that he and the relevant Chinese authorities can work together for both countries' mutual benefit.
"I am making this trip as an individual and am representing the KMT, not the government. I hope that I can use this opportunity to exchange views. We have not set any boundaries or established any premise [for interactions in China]. I am not going to bargain. I do not have the authority to represent any position," Lien said at a press conference held by the KMT yesterday morning.
Understanding
The main point of his trip, Lien said, is to expand his understanding of the progress and development that has taken place in China in the past decades while discussing issues related to the interests of both China and Taiwan.
When specifically asked by reporters if such issues include China's recently-passed "Anti-Secession" Law, Lien said that there were no limits on the topics that he might discuss with Hu and that he does not exclude the possibility that he would talk about the law.
The meeting between Lien and Hu will be the first the leaders of the CCP and the KMT in 56 years.
Lien also expressed his personal feelings on the eve of the landmark trip to China.
"I anticipate and am happy about this trip. I also feel a certain amount of sadness. The last time I left the mainland was 59 years ago, it is also a historical grief," Lien said, adding that he is grateful to have this opportunity to be able to visit China with his comrades and friends in the KMT.
Paal meeting
When questioned about his meeting last week with the director of the American Institute in Taiwan, Douglas Paal, Lien said that in addition to the US, many individuals and governments from countries in Asia and Europe have privately expressed their support for his trip to the party.
Lien was invited to China by Jia Qinglin (
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
RSS