The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday expressed regret at Australia's objection to Taiwan holding referendums on joining the UN next month.
"[The right to hold a] referendum is a core value in a democracy. It is the will of Taiwanese people to be part of the UN," ministry spokeswoman Phoebe Yeh (
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said at a press conference in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi (
Smith told reporters that Canberra had adhered to the "one China" policy for the last 35 years and would continue to do so.
"We are very concerned to ensure that action is not taken in Taiwan or in the Taiwanese [sic] Strait which would cause concern or potential for disharmony in the strait itself," he said.
Australia joins a handful of countries, including the US, the UK, France and a number of Asian countries, that have publicly criticized Taiwan's plan to hold referendums on the nation's UN bid.
The referendums on joining the world body are scheduled to held in conjunction with the presidential election on March 22.
One version, backed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), calls for Taiwan to apply for UN entry using the name "Taiwan," while the other, initiated by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), proposes a return to the organization using the name "Republic of China," "Taiwan," or "any other practical or flexible title."
Some Taiwanese academics believe China is more concerned about the results of the two upcoming referendums than the presidential race because even if the DPP's Frank Hsieh (
Andy Chang (
Instead, Beijing has been using its allies to criticize the referendums, he said.
China on Saturday said that Taipei's decision to hold a referendum on joining the UN under the name "Taiwan" was a move toward formal independence and could threaten peace in the Asia Pacific region.
Typhoon Champi is forecast to turn northward earlier than previously expected, sparing Taiwan a direct hit but still bringing heavy rain to the north of the country on Friday and Saturday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Typhoon Champi had strengthened and increased in size over the past 12 hours, and as of yesterday afternoon, was packing sustained winds of 198kph near its center, CWA forecaster Cheng Chieh-jen (鄭傑仁) said. However, due to the weakening of a Pacific high-pressure system the storm is now expected to turn northward earlier than initially forecast, likely around Japan’s Ishigaki Island, Cheng said. As Champi brushes
A sea warning for Typhoon Champi might be issued tonight, while the storm’s trajectory would determine whether a land warning is to be issued tomorrow night, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 2pm yesterday, Champi was about 1,536km east-southeast of Taiwan proper’s southernmost point, Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), packing maximum sustained winds of 198kph, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said. The storm was moving west-northwest at 23kph and was expected to strengthen over the next 24 hours before weakening slightly as it approaches cooler waters east of Taiwan, Tseng said. Champi is expected to turn north tomorrow, with the angle of the
DEFENSE PROCUREMENT: Taiwan could become the largest operator of V-BAT drones outside the US if the contract is finalized, the Ministry of National Defense said The navy and the coast guard reportedly plan to acquire 292 units of MQ-35A V-BAT vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) surveillance drones. If the contract is awarded and finalized, it would make Taiwan one of the largest buyers of the uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the US-based defense technology company Shield AI. The Coast Guard Administration budgeted NT$1.2 billion (US$37.1 million) to buy 12 drones, which have been delivered, Shield AI said in a report on Oct 13. The navy is planning to spend NT$36 billion under a four-year program code-named Project Yuan Hsiao (遠鴞) to acquire 280 V-BAT drones,
A Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy aircraft carrier group was being monitored after entering the western Pacific, the Ministry of National Defense said today, after Beijing yesterday criticized Taiwan for using a water cannon against a Chinese fishing boat near the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島). A Chinese naval task group led by the aircraft carrier Liaoning (遼寧) yesterday sailed to the western Pacific for training, Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the PLA Navy as saying. “The drill is part of the annual routine training plan aimed at testing and improving the troops’ combat readiness and enhancing their ability to
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