Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) said yesterday the government would not remove signs representing the country because of the arrival of Chinese tourists, adding, however, that it could not force the private sector to act against its will.
Liu made the remarks during a gathering with foreign news agencies and reporters yesterday afternoon.
“We will not pull down national flags and ‘Republic of China’ signs at tourism sites for Chinese tourists,” Liu said in response to a question on whether the government would make such a move ahead of the expansion of Chinese tourists, which begins tomorrow with a special delegation that includes Chinese officials.
In answer to another question, Liu said the government had no right to interfere with the private sector on the matter and could only remind people of the “inappropriateness” of removing national symbols.
“Of course we won’t make any changes at tourist sites because of Chinese tourists. But as for the private sector, the removal of national symbols is permissible. The government cannot order them not to do so, but it can try to discourage them,” Liu said.
Asked about the government’s position on Beijing’s insistence that Chinese tourists be prevented from seeing slogans expressing support for Falun Gong and Tibet, Liu said: “the government will continue to defend public activities.”
“Taiwan is a society of diversity, democracy and freedom. People can do whatever they want to do, as long as it is within the law. What the government can do is maintain public order and prevent confrontation and violence,” Liu said.
Liu said that as a result of “media hype,” the public may have overoptimistic expectations of the economic benefits that will accrue from the cross-strait passenger flights and the arrival of a larger number of Chinese tourists. He said, however, that those developments would have a positive impact on the tourism industry, which in turn could help attract tourists from other countries.
Three batches of banana sauce imported from the Philippines were intercepted at the border after they were found to contain the banned industrial dye Orange G, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. From today through Sept. 2 next year, all seasoning sauces from the Philippines are to be subject to the FDA’s strictest border inspection, meaning 100 percent testing for illegal dyes before entry is allowed, it said in a statement. Orange G is an industrial coloring agent that is not permitted for food use in Taiwan or internationally, said Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智), head of the FDA’s Northern Center for
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
LOOKING NORTH: The base would enhance the military’s awareness of activities in the Bashi Channel, which China Coast Guard ships have been frequenting, an expert said The Philippine Navy on Thursday last week inaugurated a forward operating base in the country’s northern most province of Batanes, which at 185km from Taiwan would be strategically important in a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Northern Luzon Command Commander Lieutenant General Fernyl Buca as saying that the base in Mahatao would bolster the country’s northern defenses and response capabilities. The base is also a response to the “irregular presence this month of armed” of China Coast Guard vessels frequenting the Bashi Channel in the Luzon Strait just south of Taiwan, the paper reported, citing a
About 4.2 million tourist arrivals were recorded in the first half of this year, a 10 percent increase from the same period last year, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. The growth continues to be consistent, with the fourth quarter of this year expected to be the peak in Taiwan, the agency said, adding that it plans to promote Taiwan overseas via partnerships and major events. From January to June, 9.14 million international departures were recorded from Taiwan, an 11 percent increase from the same period last year, with 3.3 million headed for Japan, 1.52 million for China and 832,962 to South Korea,
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