Independence activists yesterday said President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) had disqualified himself as a national leader following his controversial remark that Taiwan “will never ask the Americans to fight for Taiwan in a war.”
The Taiwan Nation Alliance and Taiwan National Security Institute issued a joint statement, in Chinese and English, denouncing Ma for seriously compromising Taiwan's security and discrediting himself as Taiwan's head of state.
They said Ma's remarks “fundamentally contravene the majority will of the people of Taiwan” and that the overwhelming majority of Taiwanese welcomed US support for maintaining peace and security in the Taiwan Strait, including dispatching soldiers if necessary.
They also said the will of the majority dovetailed with the US interest of seeing a democratic, free and prosperous Taiwan and maintaining peace and security in the East Asian region.
Ma's submission to China would lead to the ultimate extinction of Taiwan and turmoil in East Asia, they said.
Ma's comment would pave the way for China's military conquest of Taiwan and his attempt to sell out Taiwan would be repudiated by Taiwanese in the presidential election in 2012, they said.
They appealed to the US to continue to sell Taiwan defensive weapons, including F-16C/D fighter jets and submarines, and maintain its commitment to safeguarding peace and security in the Taiwan Strait.
Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文) said Ma seemed to speak on behalf of China rather than Taiwan.
“What he said runs against Taiwan's security and national interest,” he said. “Taiwan needs international support and we must accelerate the effort to build a Taiwanese nation.”
Taiwan New Century Foundation chairman Chen Lung-chu (陳隆志) said Ma made a “big blunder” when he made the remarks and Ma did not speak for most Taiwanese.
“We the Taiwanese people realize that we must do our utmost to defend and protect our nation,” Chen said. “But in a globalized world of ever increasing interdependence and danger, which country in the world can really stand alone? Collective security of mutual defense and assistance is the answer.”
Chen said Taiwan now has a president who has shown “every sign of leaning on China and of submitting to China's will in [Ma's] pursuit of so-called ‘ultimate unification with China,’” adding that Ma betrayed his campaign promises and acted against the popular will of the Taiwanese people.
Saying Ma’s remarks would invite great disaster, former representative to Japan Koh Se-kai (許世楷) said he hoped Ma made the remarks out of ignorance and not intentionally.
Reverend William Luo (羅榮光) of the Presbyterian Church urged Taiwanese voters “never” to elect Ma again, describing him as dictatorial and determined to sell out Taiwan.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
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
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
RSS