A visit to Beijing by the chairman of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) seems to have increased public support in Taiwan for improved relations with China, but may have also damaged the cooperation among political parties needed for an actual shift in policy.
Separate polls published by three newspapers on Saturday showed that 51 to 60 percent of the population supported the trip by KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
Interest in the trip has been so intense that television stations have even broadcast earnest discussions of the earrings and clothing that Lien's wife, Fang Yu (
Polls before the visit had suggested that only 40 percent or so of the country's residents saw the trip as a good idea, indicating that the sight of KMT and Communist leaders shaking hands a half century after China's civil war might have won over some detractors.
Joseph Wu (
Wu, who has been a strong critic of the Nationalists' efforts to conduct their own diplomacy while in the opposition, predicted that the trip would have little long-term effect on attitudes toward China, a subject on which most people here already have strong opinions that seldom change. Yet heavy news media coverage may have produced at least some short-term public interest in working more closely with China, he acknowledged.
Wu said that before making any policy decisions, the government would wait until after a weeklong visit to China starting Thursday by People First Party Chairman James Soong (
Hu's remarks during Lien's visit were little more than oratory that repeated or rephrased previous statements by Beijing officials, and the government here wants to see if Communist leaders make more concrete proposals during Soong's visit, Wu said. "So far, what we see is only rhetoric."
But Wu said twice in an interview that it was possible the government might formulate an initiative of its own after Soong's return.
Lien's effusive praise for Chinese leaders while in Beijing, and his strong criticism of Taiwanese independence supporters, have infuriated the governing Democratic Progressive Party, which leans toward more independence from China.
During a speech in Beijing, Lien accused independence advocates of having misused the introduction of democracy in Taiwan, notably by emphasizing differences over policy toward China, and between those born on Taiwan and those who moved from China.
"Some people are very upset that he's criticizing Taiwanese democracy in China; it's like slapping your children in front of other people," said Hsiao Bi-khim (
Chen has pursued a somewhat more conciliatory policy toward China since his party failed to capture an expected majority in legislative elections last December.
But hard-line advocates of greater independence within the Democratic Progressive Party are so furious now that this policy may be difficult to maintain, Hsiao said.
"It makes it even harder for President Chen to stick to the middle road, as he has been for the last few months," she said.
Andrew Yang (
NEW AGREEMENT: Malaysia approved imports last year after nearly two years of negotiations and inspections to meet quarantine requirements, officials said Up to 3.6 tonnes of pomeloes from Taiwan cleared Malaysian customs on Friday, in the first shipment of Taiwanese pomeloes to Malaysia. Taiwan-grown pomeloes are popular in domestic and overseas markets for their tender and juicy taste, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said. The fruit is already exported to Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines, it added. The agency began applying for access to the Malaysian market in 2023, compiling data on climate suitability, pests and diseases, and post-harvest handling, while also engaging in nearly two years of negotiations with Malaysian authorities and submitting supplementary
PEAK MONTHS: Data showed that on average 25 to 27 typhoons formed in the Pacific and South China seas annually, with about four forming per month in July and October One of three tropical depressions in the Pacific strengthened into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, while two others are expected to become typhoons by today, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lee Ming-hsiang (李名翔) said yesterday. The outer circulation of Tropical Depression No. 20, now Typhoon Mitag, has brought light rain to Hualien, Taitung and areas in the south, Lee said, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, Mitag was moving west-northwest at 16kph, but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan. It was possible that Tropical Depression No. 21 would become a typhoon as soon as last night, he said. It was moving in a
Tigerair Taiwan and China Airlines (CAL) today announced that several international flights were canceled or rescheduled due to Typhoon Ragasa. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) has maintained sea and land warnings for the typhoon. Its storm circle reached the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島) on Taiwan's southern tip at 11am today. Tigerair Taiwan said it canceled Monday's IT551/IT552 Taoyuan-Da Nang, IT606/IT607 Taoyuan-Busan and IT602 Taoyuan-Seoul Incheon flights. Tomorrow, cancelations include IT603 Seoul Incheon-Taoyuan, as well as flights between Taoyuan and Sapporo, Osaka, Tokyo Narita, Okinawa, Fukuoka, Saga, Tokyo Haneda, Nagoya, Asahikawa and Jeju. On Wednesday, the IT321/IT322 Kaohsiung-Macau round-trip would also be canceled. CAL announced that today's
Three tropical depressions yesterday intensified into tropical storms, with one likely to affect Taiwan as a typhoon, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The three storms, named Mitag, Ragasa and Neoguri, were designated as storms No. 17 to 19 for this year, the CWA said. Projected routes indicate that Ragasa is most likely to affect Taiwan, it said. As of 2am today, Ragasa was 1,370km east-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻) on the southernmost tip of Taiwan. It was moving west-northwest before turning northwest, slowing from 11kph to 6kph, the agency said. A sea warning for Ragasa is unlikely before Sunday afternoon, but its outer rim
RSS