The Taiwan Society, a new pro-independence group comprising more than 100 public societies, yesterday announced its official establishment. The society's leaders vowed to push a "second wave" of democratization and create a better political and cultural environment for Taiwan.
Former president Lee Teng-hui (
About 1,000 supporters, including many political heavyweights, attended the celebration and fundraising banquets. Presidential Office Secretary-General Mark Chen (陳唐山), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Yu Shyi-kun and Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Chairman Shu Chih-chiang (蘇進強) yesterday showed up for the occasion.
"The establishment of the Taiwan Society does not aim to support specific people. It is for all the people of Taiwan," said Wu, who is also the chairman of the Northern Taiwan Society.
"Today is just a start. We will go on conducting many projects to rebuild people's confidence in Taiwan, and we hope that the society can become a power that stabilizes the turbulent political situation."
The Taiwan Society, which is based on the organizations of the Northern Taiwan Society, Southern Taiwan Society and Eastern Taiwan Society along with other many domestic and overseas pro-independence groups, aims to unify all the civic groups that are pro-Taiwan identity and promote political and cultural reform. Most importantly, the society hopes to fight to keep a pro-localization party in power in 2008, said Northern Taiwan Society secretary-general Chet Yang (
Yang said that the Taiwan Society will hold a series of activities to promote the society's goals, and that hopefully it would attract more young people to join in its activities.
Meanwhile, at the ceremony, Mark Chen confirmed that President Chen Shui-bian (
A preclearance service to facilitate entry for people traveling to select airports in Japan would be available from Thursday next week to Feb. 25 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC) said on Tuesday. The service was first made available to Taiwanese travelers throughout the winter vacation of 2024 and during the Lunar New Year holiday. In addition to flights to the Japanese cities of Hakodate, Asahikawa, Akita, Sendai, Niigata, Okayama, Takamatsu, Kumamoto and Kagoshima, the service would be available to travelers to Kobe and Oita. The service can be accessed by passengers of 15 flight routes operated by
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
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