Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Yu Shyi-kun said yesterday he would not set a timetable for altering the nation's title and Constitution, as this would only create unnecessary constraints.
"Although I am in favor of writing a new constitution, changing the nation's title and joining the UN under the name `Taiwan,' I do not have a specific timetable," Yu said in a radio interview yesterday.
Yu denied that his remarks were targeted at DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (
PHOTO: KUO YUNG-HSIANG, TAIPEI TIMES
"[My push for a `normal country' resolution] is not a countermeasure to Hsieh's policy as the media have speculated," Yu said. "No, we [party headquarters] are not trying to draw up a to-do list for Hsieh if he is elected."
The DPP unveiled the first draft of its "normal country" resolution on Aug. 1.
Yu said the DPP Central Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday had agreed the resolution was necessary ahead of the elections next year.
However, Chinese-language newspapers, including the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times' sister newspaper), reported yesterday that Hsieh questioned the feasibility of the draft during the meeting. In particular, Hsieh was said to have taken umbrage at a section stating that the party "must act immediately and should not hesitate to change the nation's title and write a new constitution in order to get rid of the constraints of the system of the Republic of China."
Yu said that Hsieh supported the resolution, but had input on its content and wording.
Yu said the resolution was necessary to distinguish the DPP from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and its presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
Yu said DPP public opinion surveys conducted since May indicated "a problem with DPP supporters' enthusiasm." He said that Hsieh had fallen behind Ma in popularity since last month.
"DPP surveys are very accurate. Therefore, I need to ... review the party's approach," Yu said.
"It is OK for Hsieh to choose his approach, but the party's basic values must be respected. The party cannot lose its ideals," he said.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it