The shift in the fundamental principle guiding the government's cross-strait economic policy, which was announced in the president's New Year speech yesterday, was based on the belief that the nation's core interests should take precedence over the demands of any individual business, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said.
The council issued a press release yesterday about President Chen Shui-bian's (
The key change in Chen's cross-strait policy was the adoption of the principle "active management, effective opening" to replace the previous "active opening, effective management."
The "active opening, effective management" was a more open economic policy that was implemented by the Chen administration in 2001, replacing former president Lee Teng-hui's (
But despite Chen's new phrase, the council said that there will be no major change in the government's cross-strait policies.
"Specifically speaking, `active management' is meant to guarantee the nation's economic autonomy and sustainable development. So it should be regarded as the groundwork of a `positive opening'," the council said in the press release.
The council said that it would be a distortion to describe Chen's new cross-strait policy as either "tightening up" or "opening up," because only if the management is effective can the government ensure that the "opening" benefits the whole nation.
Given that China hasn't changed its unreasonable attitude toward Taiwan, despite the demand for businesses to invest in China, the nation's core interests and overall economic strategy need to be taken into account, the council said.
The council added that some high-tech businesses, which had consulted with the government and obtained its permission before investing in China, had set a good example for the "active management, effective opening" policy.
The cooperation between the government and private business in "management" can also reduce the risks associated with "opening," the council said.
Meanwhile, it called on the Chinese government to resume official cross-strait negotiations, which were suspended by the Chinese side in 1999.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning. The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today. The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is next month to hold an exhibition in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the rich and unique history of Taiwanese folklore and literature. The exhibition, which is to run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 at the city’s Central Public Hall, is part of the “We Taiwan” at Expo 2025 series, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural ties with the international community, National Museum of Taiwan Literature director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said. Folklore and literature, among Taiwan’s richest cultural heritages, naturally deserve a central place in the global dialogue, Chen said. Taiwan’s folklore would be immediately apparent at the entrance of the
“China is preparing to invade Taiwan,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said in an exclusive interview with British media channel Sky News for a special report titled, “Is Taiwan ready for a Chinese invasion?” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in a statement. The 25-minute-long special report by Helen Ann-Smith released yesterday saw Sky News travel to Penghu, Taoyuan and Taipei to discuss the possibility of a Chinese invasion and how Taiwan is preparing for an attack. The film observed emergency response drills, interviewed baseball fans at the Taipei Dome on their views of US President
Speeding and badly maintained roads were the main causes of a school bus accident on a rainy day in Taipei last year that severely injured two people and left 22 with minor injuries, the Taiwan Transportation and Safety Board said. On March 11 last year, a Kang Chiao International School bus overturned inside the Wenshan Tunnel (文山隧道) on the northbound lane of the Xinyi Expressway. The tour bus, owned by Long Lai Co, exceeded the speed limit after entering the tunnel, the board’s investigation found. Sensing that the rear of the vehicle was swaying, the driver attempted to use the service and exhaust