A well-known US political commentator said on Saturday that the US should revise its "one China" policy as both the policy and Beijing's so-called "one country, two systems" formula are out of date and do not meet with the current political situation nor the interests of Taiwanese people.
Bruce Herschensohn, who once served as a deputy special assistant to the late US president Richard Nixon, made the comments in a speech entitled "One China Policy and the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA)," to local Taiwanese expatriates in Hacienda Heights near Los Angeles at the invitation of Ted Anderson, president of the Friends of Taiwan, a pro-Taiwan association in the US.
Talking about US President George W. Bush's upcoming visit to China which will begin next week, the commentator said that although Chinese President Hu Jintao (
Misunderstanding
According to Herschensohn, the "one China" policy actually stems from a misunderstanding of a few phrases in the "Shanghai Communique" which was signed by Nixon and Chinese leaders, which he said has never been debated nor contemplated in US academic circles or among US lawmakers.
Unfortunately, he continued, several pro-China officials in the US State Department intentionally explained the communique incorrectly so that the "one China" policy has become an operating principle in US-Taiwan-China relations.
Noting that the "one China" policy and the so-called "one country, two systems" formula are out of date, the commentator said that "they also go against the wellbeing of Taiwan people's and should be abandoned entirely."
He also described the "Anti-Secession" Law passed by China in March of this year as a "bad law," saying that this can be proved by the fact that the EU suspended its discussions related to lifting its arms ban on China after the law was passed.
US pledges
Pointing out that the US would certainly help Taiwan to defend itself in accordance with the TRA if China were to start a war against Taiwan, the commentator said that if Washington does not do as it promises, it will not only violate the spirit of the founding of the state, but will also go against the pledges made by many US presidents advocating freedom and democracy in the world.
Besides actively helping Taiwan to defend itself and providing it with sophisticated military technology, the US should also use the term "Taiwan," the correct designation for the island, when referring to Taiwan, he concluded.
Greenpeace yesterday said that it is to appeal a decision last month by the Taipei High Administrative Court to dismiss its 2021 lawsuit against the Ministry of Economic Affairs over “loose” regulations governing major corporate electricity consumers. The climate-related lawsuit — the first of its kind in Taiwan — sought to require the government to enforce higher green energy thresholds on major corporations to reduce emissions in light of climate change and an uptick in extreme weather. The suit, filed by Greenpeace East Asia, the Environmental Jurists Association and four individual plaintiffs, was dismissed on May 8 following four years of litigation. The
STAY AWAY: An official said people should avoid disturbing snakes, as most do not actively attack humans, but would react defensively if threatened Taitung County authorities yesterday urged the public to stay vigilant and avoid disturbing snakes in the wild, following five reported snakebite cases in the county so far this year. Taitung County Fire Department secretary Lin Chien-cheng (林建誠) said two of the cases were in Donghe Township (東河) and involved the Taiwan habus, one person was bit by a Chinese pit viper near the South Link Railway and the remaining two were caused by unidentified snakes. He advised residents near fields to be cautious of snakes hiding in shady indoor areas, especially when entering or leaving their homes at night. In case of a
A tropical disturbance off the southeastern coast of the Philippines might become the first typhoon of the western Pacific typhoon season, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The system lacks a visible center and how it would develop is only likely to become clear on Sunday or Monday, the CWA said, adding that it was not yet possible to forecast the potential typhoon's effect on Taiwan. The American Meteorological Society defines a tropical disturbance as a system made up of showers and thunderstorms that lasts for at least 24 hours and does not have closed wind circulation.
DIPLOMACY: It is Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo’s first visit to Taiwan since he took office last year, while Eswatini’s foreign minister is also paying a visit A delegation led by Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo arrived in Taiwan yesterday afternoon and is to visit President William Lai (賴清德) today. The delegation arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at 4:55pm, and was greeted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). It is Arevalo’s first trip to Taiwan since he took office last year, and following the visit, he is to travel to Japan to celebrate the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Arevalo said at the airport that he is very glad to make the visit to Taiwan, adding that he brings an important message of responsibility
RSS