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.
POLAM KOPITIAM CASE: Of the two people still in hospital, one has undergone a liver transplant and is improving, while the other is being evaluated for a liver transplant A fourth person has died from bongkrek acid poisoning linked to the Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) restaurant in Taipei’s Far Eastern Sogo Xinyi A13 Department Store, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said yesterday, as two other people remain seriously ill in hospital. The first death was reported on March 24. The man had been 39 years old and had eaten at the restaurant on March 22. As more cases of suspected food poisoning involving people who had eaten at the restaurant were reported by hospitals on March 26, the ministry and the Taipei Department of Health launched an investigation. The Food and
The long-awaited Taichung aquarium is expected to open next year after more than a decade of development. The building in Cingshui District (清水) is to feature a large ocean aquarium on the first floor, coral display area on the second floor, a jellyfish tank and Dajia River (大甲溪) basin display on the third, a river estuary display and restaurant on the fourth, and a cafe and garden on the fifth. As it is near Wuci Fishing Port (梧棲漁港), many are expecting the opening of the aquarium to bring more tourism to the harbor. Speaking at the city council on Monday, Taichung City Councilor
A fourth person has died in a food poisoning outbreak linked to the Xinyi (信義) branch of Malaysian restaurant chain Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) in Taipei, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang (王必勝) said on Monday. It was the second fatality in three days, after another was announced on Saturday. The 40-year-old woman experienced multiple organ failure in the early hours on Monday, and the family decided not to undergo emergency resuscitation, Wang said. She initially showed signs of improvement after seeking medical treatment for nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but her condition worsened due to an infection, he said. Two others who
Taiwanese should be mindful when visiting China, as Beijing in July is likely to tighten the implementation of policies on national security following the introduction of two regulations, a researcher said on Saturday. China on Friday unveiled the regulations governing the law enforcement and judicial activities of national security agencies. They would help crack down on “illegal” and “criminal” activities that Beijing considers to be endangering national security, according to reports by China’s state media. The definition of what constitutes a national security threat in China is vague, Taiwan Thinktank researcher Wu Se-chih (吳瑟致) said. The two procedural regulations are to provide Chinese