Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) said yesterday in response to a question from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Kuo Wen-chen (郭玟成) during a question-and-answer session at the legislature that he would not meet with the chairman of China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) Chen Yunlin (陳雲林) if Chen refused to address him as “Premier Liu.”
Kuo had questioned the government’s China-leaning cross-strait policies and said that it seemed to him “a prelude to the country’s unification with China.”
Kuo said that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) had previously stated that he would not mind if Chen, who may visit Taiwan this month for a second round of talks with his Taiwanese counterpart, Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤), addressed him as “Mr Ma.”
Liu did not comment on Ma’s position on the matter, but said that although both sides of the Strait are still working on the details of Chen’s planned visit, including the protocols and what to call each other, he would insist on being referred to as “Premier Liu.”
Also at the session, DPP Legislator Chai Trong-rong (蔡同榮) asked Liu to drop a plan to open up the higher education system to Chinese students.
“What’s the point of Taiwan educating the young generation from a nation that is our enemy?” Chai said.
Chai also called on Liu not to recognize Chinese diplomas because it would be to the detriment of Taiwan’s higher education system.
In response, Liu said there was no reason not to recognize diplomas issued by Chinese universities, many of which are listed as distinguished global higher education institutions.
Also on the legislative floor, Minister of Education Cheng Jei-cheng (鄭瑞城) said local students would not be affected by the government’s plan to allow Chinese students to study here because there would be limited spaces available for Chinese students.
“Having Chinese students study in the country will leave them with good impression of our nation, which in turn will help reduce enmity toward Taiwan,” Cheng said.
Meanwhile, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Sun Ta-chien (孫大千) called on the government to make clear how it would help those members of the public who have suffered losses through their investments in Lehman Brothers-related structured notes.
In response, Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) Vice Chairwoman Lee Jih-chu (李紀珠) said that investors could seek assistance from the FSC, the Bankers Association of the Republic of China and the Securities and Futures Investors Protection Center when asking for compensation.
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