If elected president, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (
In his opening remarks at a reception for foreign reporters in Taipei yesterday, Hsieh said that he believes that cross-strait relations will not be changed by policies but by changing the "attitude" that Taiwan and China have about each other.
"And my attitude is clear ... I do believe [Taiwan's] peaceful coexistence with China will contribute to peace in Asia Pacific region," Hsieh said in English. "It is conductive to cross-strait development."
Dialogue
"If I can be elected to be president, I will do whatever it takes to push forward cross-strait dialogue and negotiation," he said. "I will do my best to create mutual interests and mutual trust."
When asked how he would put a dialogue with China into place, Hsieh said he would seek to establish a "consensus" with China in terms of "procedure" and "time." He did not elaborate.
When asked for his opinion on Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) comments earlier yesterday that Ma would restore dialogue with China based on the "1992 consensus," Hsieh said he did not think it was important if such a consensus existed.
"The point is whether both sides believe it is important to conduct negotiations. If we do, we can negotiate with each other even without the `consensus,'" he said.
Hsieh said he is willing to assume China is a "rational" and "predictable" country and believes China would be receptive to him as the Taiwanese president.
When asked if he was competing with Ma to see who had more accommodating cross-strait policies, Hsieh disagreed, saying that this was a competition for "who can better safeguard Taiwan's interests."
He said he hoped China understands that Taiwan will not stand in China's path in its drive to become an international superpower.
When asked for his view on allowing Chinese investors to invest or buy property in Taiwan, Hsieh said he held a liberal opinion on the issue, adding that the government would work out restrictions when necessary.
When asked about his vision for US-Taiwan and Taiwan-Japan relations, Hsieh said his goal would be to build up "common strategic interests" with the US and Japan, adding that he hoped to sign an agreement with Japan similar to the Taiwan Relations Act Taiwan has with the US.
PRAISE: Japanese visitor Takashi Kubota said the Taiwanese temple architecture images showcased in the AI Art Gallery were the most impressive displays he saw Taiwan does not have an official pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, because of its diplomatic predicament, but the government-backed Tech World pavilion is drawing interest with its unique recreations of works by Taiwanese artists. The pavilion features an artificial intelligence (AI)-based art gallery showcasing works of famous Taiwanese artists from the Japanese colonial period using innovative technologies. Among its main simulated displays are Eastern gouache paintings by Chen Chin (陳進), Lin Yu-shan (林玉山) and Kuo Hsueh-hu (郭雪湖), who were the three young Taiwanese painters selected for the East Asian Painting exhibition in 1927. Gouache is a water-based
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck eastern Taiwan's Hualien County at 2:23pm today, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). The epicenter of the temblor was 5.4 kilometers northeast of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 34.9 km, according to the CWA. The earthquake's intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was the highest in Hualien County, where it measured 2 on Taiwan's 7-tier intensity scale. The quake also measured an intensity of 1 in Yilan county, Taichung, Nantou County, Changhua County and Yunlin County, the CWA said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
‘WORSE THAN COMMUNISTS’: President William Lai has cracked down on his political enemies and has attempted to exterminate all opposition forces, the chairman said The legislature would motion for a presidential recall after May 20, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said yesterday at a protest themed “against green communists and dictatorship” in Taipei. Taiwan is supposed to be a peaceful homeland where people are united, but President William Lai (賴清德) has been polarizing and tearing apart society since his inauguration, Chu said. Lai must show his commitment to his job, otherwise a referendum could be initiated to recall him, he said. Democracy means the rule of the people, not the rule of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), but Lai has failed to fulfill his
OFF-TARGET: More than 30,000 participants were expected to take part in the Games next month, but only 6,550 foreign and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have registered Taipei city councilors yesterday blasted the organizers of next month’s World Masters Games over sudden timetable and venue changes, which they said have caused thousands of participants to back out of the international sporting event, among other organizational issues. They also cited visa delays and political interference by China as reasons many foreign athletes are requesting refunds for the event, to be held from May 17 to 30. Jointly organized by the Taipei and New Taipei City governments, the games have been rocked by numerous controversies since preparations began in 2020. Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng (林延鳳) said yesterday that new measures by
RSS