The Presidential Office yesterday said that People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong's (
Soong yesterday told students at Beijing's Tsinghua University that "it is the PFP's consistent stance that Taiwan independence is a dead end; Taiwan independence has never been a choice that the PFP and Taiwan should make."
While stating that every individual in Taiwan is entitled to his own opinion and enjoys freedom of speech, the Presidential Office's Department of Public Affairs expressed disapproval at Soong's comments by referring to a 10-point consensus reached between Soong and President Chen Shui-bian (
Soong is currently on a tour of China which he has dubbed "bridge-building." Prior to his departure, Soong said he would discuss the 10-point consensus with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), who he is expected to meet today.
The Presidential Office said that, according to the sixth point in the Chen-Soong consensus issued on Feb. 24, any change to the status quo between Taiwan and China had to be determined by Taiwan's 23 million people and that no option -- including Taiwanese independence -- would be ruled out.
Ahead of Soong's meeting with Hu, the Presidential Office yesterday renewed its denunciation of the so-called "1992 consensus."
The Presidential Office statement said there never was a consensus, despite various references to the "1992 consensus" in the wake of trips by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (
Saying that none of the people who attended the Hong Kong meeting mentioned a "1992 consensus" before or after the talks, the statement added that the term was created by former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (
"One ought not to attach historic truth to a term that was created after the event," the statement said, adding that history should not be "changed, misinterpreted or misrepresented" by anybody as the political landscape changes.
Stating that there exists a complete archived record of the process and results of the 1992 negotiations, the Presidential Office said that the late chairman of the quasi-official Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), Koo Chen-fu (
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
Tropical Storm Podul has formed over waters north-northeast of Guam and is expected to approach the seas southeast of Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The 11th Pacific storm of the year developed at 2am over waters about 2,660km east of Oluanpi (歐鑾鼻), Pingtung County — Taiwan's southernmost tip. It is projected to move westward and could have its most significant impact on Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday next week, the CWA said. The agency did not rule out the possibility of issuing a sea warning at that time. According to the CWA's latest update, Podul is drifting west-northwest
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