KMT spokeswoman Cheng Li-wen (鄭麗文) urged the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday to solve its internal conflicts and seek a consensus on major national policies before planning more meetings with the KMT chairman.
After a meeting between KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) on Monday, other DPP leaders, including Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun expressed their willingness to meet with the opposition leader.
On Tuesday, Ma downplayed the possibility of meeting with any DPP leaders in the near future, saying he had been disappointed by the "unproductive" meeting.
Cheng yesterday restated the party's lukewarm attitude toward discussing issues with the DPP.
"The DPP's plight is that President Chen, with his reckless approach in dealing with major issues, leaves no room for discussion among party elites," she said yesterday at KMT headquarters. "The most important thing for the DPP now is to find common ground on major national policies."
Cheng said Ma's decision to arrange a meeting with Chen had mainly been to share his experiences from his US trip, to help mend differences between the parties and to seek ways to improve people's livelihoods.
The DPP leadership's eagerness to meet with Ma reflected their party's concerns about its own future, and before it solved its own problems, the KMT would "politely refuse to hold any meetings with the DPP," the spokeswoman said.
Asked whether Ma would attend a national conference on sustainable economic growth to be convened by the Executive Yuan this summer, she quoted Ma as saying that the government should "just do it" instead of simply talking about the issue.
Cheng suggested that the DPP focus on implementing the outcome of the first national economic development conference in order to revive the economy.
"The KMT has no plans to take part in a KMT-DPP summit," she said.
Director of the KMT's Chinese Affairs Department Chang Rong-kung (張榮恭) yesterday questioned the Executive Yuan's intentions, saying that it had invited opposition parties to the conference to gain their endorsement of its cross-strait policies.
"Unless the government declares that the outcome of the meeting will change President Chen's policy of `active management,' any meeting between the ruling and opposition camp won't be necessary," he said.
Chang said many conclusions reached at the first national economic development conference, such as the promotion of direct flights and the three links, had not been implemented by the DPP government.
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
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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