■ Olympics
Hsieh spurns torch plan
Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) rejected China's offer to make Taiwan one of the stops on a "domestic route" through China for the torch relay ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games. Saying that Taiwan and China are different countries, Hsieh said the government will not allow the Olympic flame to pass through Taiwan as part of the "domestic route" designated by Beijing. The nation would welcome the torch if it is to be passed on directly to another country immediately after Taiwan, but not if it comes from China and then returns to China before moving on to a third country, Hsieh said. According to Huang, Beijing filed an application to the International Olympic Committee on Nov. 10 to pass the Olympic torch to Taiwan using the same model applied to Hong Kong, which he said was a move to promote China's territorial claim over Taiwan.
■ Government
New exam questions pushed
The 908 Taiwan Republic Campaign yesterday visited Examination Yuan President Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文) to ask him to include questions about the San Francisco Peace Treaty in the entrance exams for would-be public servants. Group head Peter Wang (王獻極) said Sept. 8 should be set aside as "Taiwan's Independence Day" to mark Taiwan's de facto independence, since on that day in 1951 Japan signed the treaty, relinquishing its claim to Taiwan. Wang said that civil servants should be required to know about this piece of Taiwan's history. Yao said that he could understand the reasoning behind Wang's request but he did not have the power to intervene in the design of the tests.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday announced a ban on all current and former government officials from traveling to China to attend a military parade on Sept. 3, which Beijing is to hold to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War. "This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the Republic of China’s victory in the War of Resistance [Against Japan]," MAC Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) told a regular news briefing in Taipei. To prevent Beijing from using the Sept. 3 military parade and related events for "united
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