Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday called for widespread public support for a KMT-initiated referendum on the country's UN bid on the grounds that it would not have any adverse effects on the region's stability.
Ma said the KMT-proposed referendum on pushing for the country's UN membership under its official title, the "Republic of China" (ROC), would not stir up concerns from other countries because the party has taken into account the possible response before seeking public endorsement for the referendum.
"The US has spoken out against the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) UN bid referendum plan several times, but it has not criticized the KMT-proposed one," Ma said.
"The KMT-initiated referendum is more flexible and thus is beneficial to Taiwan," he said.
Along with the presidential election slated for March 22, two referendums on the country's UN bid, one initiated by the KMT and the other initiated by the DPP, will be held simultaneously.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday in a year-end news conference that the US supports a "one-China" policy and opposes the DPP's planned UN referendum, which she branded as provocative.
Commenting on Rice's remarks, DPP presidential hopeful Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) said yesterday that the KMT-proposed referendum on applying to rejoin the UN under the name "ROC" and the party's insistence on adopting a two-step voting method in the coming legislative and presidential elections were "plots" to undermine the DPP's referendum on Taiwan's UN cause.
The KMT does not really intend to promote its UN bid referendum, and it is merely a covert move to sabotage the one proposed by the DPP, Hsieh said.
Hsieh added that Washington was aware of this and that Beijing did not object to the KMT's plans.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
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