A former senior presidential adviser, Peng Ming-min (
Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Taipei Representative Office in Belgium, Peng said that poor cross-strait relations still posed a danger, even though other problems across the globe have meant that the international community has paid less attention to the issue.
While cross-strait economic relations are increasing, progress was lacking on the political front, Peng said.
MISINFORMED
Peng said many of the perceptions held by Western countries on cross-strait issues were incorrect and disputable, including the "one China" policy, the emphasis on the maintenance of the "status quo," and calls for Taiwan to engage in a dialogue with China and not to provoke China.
Taking the "one China" policy as an example, Peng pointed out that Taiwan, which has been operating independently over the past several decades, is a sovereign and democratic political entity.
"The claim that Taiwan, which is totally different from China, is `part of China' is obviously made with disregard to this reality," Peng said.
On the "status quo" that some countries had asked both sides of the Taiwan Strait to maintain, Peng argued that no one was able to define the concept because the situation was always changing.
For instance, Peng said, China's military buildup is a strategy to change the status quo, while Taiwan's arms procurement and even economic growth are also changing the status quo.
"After taking into account all these factors, the so-called `status quo' is totally meaningless," he said.
DEFENSE
Peng stressed that Taiwan has no power or intention to provoke anyone and that the country is only defending itself and its democratic reforms.
Noting that Taiwan has on many occasions expressed its desire to resume talks with China, Peng said that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) had even suggested that the "one China" principle be put on the agenda for such negotiations so that the two sides could work on a resolution.
However, despite Taiwan's efforts, Beijing has insisted that Taiwan accept the "one China" principle as a precondition to reopening cross-strait talks, Peng said, adding that this was equivalent to asking Taiwan to "surrender."
Referendum
On Taiwan's plan to hold a referendum on whether to apply for UN membership using the name "Taiwan," Peng said that Taiwan already meets all the conditions required to join international organizations.
Peng said it is unfair that some countries have called Taiwan's aspiration to become a normal member of international organizations "provocative."
With neither the US nor the EU supporting the referendum, Peng said Taiwan's UN bid was intended to call the world's attention to the issue and pressure China into giving up its threat of force against Taiwan.
LOUD AND PROUD Taiwan might have taken a drubbing against Australia and Japan, but you might not know it from the enthusiasm and numbers of the fans Taiwan might not be expected to win the World Baseball Classic (WBC) but their fans are making their presence felt in Tokyo, with tens of thousands decked out in the team’s blue, blowing horns and singing songs. Taiwanese fans have packed out the Tokyo Dome for all three of their games so far and even threatened to drown out home team supporters when their team played Japan on Friday. They blew trumpets, chanted for their favorite players and had their own cheerleading squad who dance on a stage during the game. The team struggled to match that exuberance on the field, with
Whether Japan would help defend Taiwan in case of a cross-strait conflict would depend on the US and the extent to which Japan would be allowed to act under the US-Japan Security Treaty, former Japanese minister of defense Satoshi Morimoto said. As China has not given up on the idea of invading Taiwan by force, to what extent Japan could support US military action would hinge on Washington’s intention and its negotiation with Tokyo, Morimoto said in an interview with the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) yesterday. There has to be sufficient mutual recognition of how Japan could provide
UPDATED TEST: The new rules aim to assess drivers’ awareness of risky behaviors and how they respond under certain circumstances, the Highway Bureau said Driver’s license applicants who fail to yield to pedestrians at intersections or to check blind spots, or omit pointing-and-calling procedures would fail the driving test, the Highway Bureau said yesterday. The change is set to be implemented at the end of the month, and is part of the bureau’s reform of the driving portion of the test, which has been criticized for failing to assess whether drivers can operate vehicles safely. Sedan drivers would be tested regarding yielding to pedestrians and turning their heads to check blind spots, while drivers of large vehicles would be tested on their familiarity with pointing-and-calling
A Taiwanese man apologized on Friday after saying in a social media post that he worked with Australia to provide scouting reports on Taiwan’s team, enabling Australia’s victory in this year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC), saying it was a joke and that he did not hold any position with foreign teams or Taiwan’s sports training center. Chen Po-hao (陳柏豪) drew the rage of many Taiwan baseball fans when he posted online on Thursday night, claiming credit for Australia’s 3-0 win over Taiwan in the opening game for Pool C, saying he worked as a physical therapist with the national team and
RSS