The compromise on names that Taiwan uses in international affairs is a temporary expedient and the result of Beijing's interference, President Chen Shui-bian (
While receiving dozens of members of the US-based Formosa Foundation at the Presidential Office, Chen reiterated his willingness to attend the November APEC leaders' summit in Busan, South Korea, even if it means using the name "Chinese Taipei."
Chen said he fully understands that it would be very difficult to break the convention that only allows participation by special envoys of Taiwan's president at APEC summits.
"The name `Chinese Taipei' is not my idea. But it is nevertheless the name accepted by the organization in 1991 when Taiwan applied for membership. Years have passed and I would like to have it [that name] replaced by `Taiwan' but it would be difficult to do," Chen said.
In a bid to clarify the relationship between Taiwan and Republic of China (ROC), Chen outlined his "Four Stages" theory of the country's development.
According to Chen, the first stage was the establishment of the ROC in China in 1912. The second stage was when the ROC moved to Taiwan in 1949. When Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) was president (1988-2000), the nation was a stage of "the ROC in Taiwan." After the 2000 presidential election and the first transfer of power, the nation entered a new era -- "the ROC is Taiwan."
Chen said that last week the word "Taiwan" had been added next to "Republic of China" on the English-language section of the Presidential Office's Web site in an effort to avoid confusion between the ROC and the People's Republic of China (PRC).
Chen said it is too bad that China hampers Taiwan's efforts to participate in the international community, but that Beijing's obvious malice can be seen by not just Taiwan but the entire world.
Using last year's Olympic Games award ceremonies as an example, the president said that most Taiwanese people were upset because they did not see the national flag or hear the national anthem when medals were presented to Taiwanese athletes.
Chen said the name Taiwan is not used as the country's official name in any international organization or event, noting that its name in the WTO is the "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu."
Chen said that the compromises on names used to participate in international affairs is a temporary expedient. However, the nation's sovereignty, which belongs to the 23 million Taiwanese people, cannot be given up or shared.
The reaction of the legislative caucuses to Chen's theory was mixed.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip William Lai (賴清德) said Chen was simply stating the facts and that his theory would help ease tensions between people of different ages and among ethnic groups who have different feelings and identifications for the country.
Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) caucus whip Mark Ho (何敏豪) said that although Chen was simply stating the fact that Taiwan is a sovereign state, only by enacting a new constitution and recitifying the national title can the nation's sovereign status be ensured.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Pan Wei-kang (
People First Party (PFP) caucus whip Sun Ta-chien (孫大千) said that the definition and status of the ROC should be based on the Constitution and politicians should not take the liberty of making individual interpretations.
(Additional reporting by staff reporter Ko Shu-ling)
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
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
RSS