Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus secretary-general Chang Sho-wen (張碩文) defended last weekend’s KMT-Chinese Communist Party (CCP) forum yesterday, saying that anyone or any organization that strives to ensure the “happiness of the people” deserves credit.
Chang was responding to criticism from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus that the forum had replaced the government in cross-strait negotiations.
DPP caucus whip William Lai (賴清德) said cross-strait talks should proceed within a government-to-government framework, rather than a party-to-party mechanism.
The direct transportation links and the arrival of the two pandas would not have been made possible without the KMT-CCP forum, adding that although the forum was a platform between the two parties, it had made numerous “constructive” contributions to cross-strait relations, Chang said.
He praised KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) and former KMT chairman Lien Chan (連戰), who both attended the Shanghai forum, which wrapped up on Monday.
Two KMT lawmakers, however, supported Lai’s view.
Legislators Shyu Jong-shyoung (徐中雄) and Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) said a non-governmental channel was no longer important since exchanges between officials from Taiwan and China had resumed.
Chang rebuffed his colleagues’ criticism.
“We think it [the forum] could end after both sides of the Taiwan Strait sign a peace agreement,” he said.
Meanwhile, KMT caucus deputy secretary-general Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾) dismissed media speculation that the government would disregard the forum’s resolutions.
The government needs time to evaluate results of the forum, she said.
The forum came up with nine suggestions, including increasing the number of cross-strait charter flights from 108 per week to 168 during the Lunar New Year holiday, which begins on Jan. 25.
During the forum, Taiwan Affairs Office Director Wang Yi (王毅) said that Chinese banking institutions, including the China Development Bank, the Bank of China and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, would be authorized to increase the size of the loans and credit services they can offer to China-based Taiwanese enterprises to help them weather any difficulties they might face during the current economic downturn.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
Taiwan would benefit from more integrated military strategies and deployments if the US and its allies treat the East China Sea, the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea as a “single theater of operations,” a Taiwanese military expert said yesterday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a researcher at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said he made the assessment after two Japanese military experts warned of emerging threats from China based on a drill conducted this month by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theater Command. Japan Institute for National Fundamentals researcher Maki Nakagawa said the drill differed from the
‘WORSE THAN COMMUNISTS’: President William Lai has cracked down on his political enemies and has attempted to exterminate all opposition forces, the chairman said The legislature would motion for a presidential recall after May 20, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said yesterday at a protest themed “against green communists and dictatorship” in Taipei. Taiwan is supposed to be a peaceful homeland where people are united, but President William Lai (賴清德) has been polarizing and tearing apart society since his inauguration, Chu said. Lai must show his commitment to his job, otherwise a referendum could be initiated to recall him, he said. Democracy means the rule of the people, not the rule of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), but Lai has failed to fulfill his
OFF-TARGET: More than 30,000 participants were expected to take part in the Games next month, but only 6,550 foreign and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have registered Taipei city councilors yesterday blasted the organizers of next month’s World Masters Games over sudden timetable and venue changes, which they said have caused thousands of participants to back out of the international sporting event, among other organizational issues. They also cited visa delays and political interference by China as reasons many foreign athletes are requesting refunds for the event, to be held from May 17 to 30. Jointly organized by the Taipei and New Taipei City governments, the games have been rocked by numerous controversies since preparations began in 2020. Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng (林延鳳) said yesterday that new measures by
A rally held by opposition parties yesterday demonstrates that Taiwan is a democratic country, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, adding that if opposition parties really want to fight dictatorship, they should fight it on Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) held a protest with the theme “against green communists and dictatorship,” and was joined by the Taiwan People’s Party. Lai said the opposition parties are against what they called the “green communists,” but do not fight against the “Chinese communists,” adding that if they really want to fight dictatorship, they should go to the right place and face
RSS