People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (
Su was commenting on Soong's remarks in a speech delivered at Tsinghua University in Beijing earlier in the day. Soong said that Taiwan independence is a dead-end and should never be an option.
Noting that Soong is visiting China in his capacity as PFP head, Su said Soong does not have the right to "make any decision on behalf of the people of Taiwan during his China journey."
"The people of Taiwan are entitled to all kinds of options for their future. No option should be ruled out arbitrarily. Independence is an option. Soong himself can oppose Taiwan independence, but he is not entitled to rule out this option on behalf of Taiwan's people," Su said.
The Cabinet yesterday echoed this view, affirming the PFP chairman's efforts to promote Taiwan's economic experience, but adding that the PFP's policy does not represent all the people of Taiwan.
"Taiwan is a democratic country. Everybody has the right to speak out, no matter what kind of voice it will be. So do political parties," Cabinet spokesman Cho Jung-tai (
"But any individual political party's voice cannot represent Taiwan's 23 million people," Cho said.
Cho made the remarks at a press conference held after the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday morning.
A strong continental cold air mass is to bring pollutants to Taiwan from tomorrow, the Ministry of Environment said today, as it issued an “orange” air quality alert for most of the country. All of Taiwan except for Hualien and Taitung counties is to be under an “orange” air quality alert tomorrow, indicating air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. In China, areas from Shandong to Shanghai have been enveloped in haze since Saturday, the ministry said in a news release. Yesterday, hourly concentrations of PM2.5 in these areas ranged from 65 to 160 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m³), and pollutants were
Taiwan’s armed forces have established response protocols for a wide range of sudden contingencies, including the “Wan Chun Plan” to protect the head of state, the Ministry of Defense (MND) said today. After US President Donald Trump on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, concerns have been raised as to whether China would launch a similar “decapitation strike” on Taiwan. The armed forces regularly coordinate with relevant agencies and practice drills to ensure preparedness for a wide range of scenarios, Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) told reporters before a
EVA Airways on Saturday said that it had suspended a pilot and opened an investigation after he allegedly lost his temper and punched the first officer several times as their plane was taxiing before takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport. According to a report published on Thursday by The Reporter, the incident occurred after the flight’s Malaysian first officer tried to warn the Taiwanese pilot, surnamed Wen (文), that he was taxiing faster than the speed limit of 30 knots (55.6kph). After alerting the pilot several times without response, the first officer manually applied the brakes in accordance with standard operating
The New Taipei City Social Welfare Department on Thursday celebrated Paralympic competitor Chen Tzu-wei (張孜維), who received last year’s national Golden Eagle award for exemplary achievement by Taiwanese with disabilities. Chen, who suffers from childhood-onset muscular dystrophy, did not attend the first award ceremony held by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in November due to illness. Chen was formally presented with the award at the department, where he gave thanks to government workers for supporting his education and livelihood, the department said in a statement. Chen was raised by the Ai-hsin Home for Persons with Disabilities in the city’s Bali District (八里)
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