Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) on Saturday questioned whether President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) is intentionally pushing forward China-leaning policies after the government commissioned mostly pro-China academics for research projects on South China Sea issues.
For instance, National Chengchi University Institute of International Relations research fellow Liu Fu-kuo (劉復國) and Chinese National Institute for South China Sea Studies president Wu Shicun (吳士存) cohosted a project that produced policy proposals urging Taiwan and China to join forces to protect the territory of “one China” and the implementation of cross-strait military and political cooperation in the South China Sea, Chen said.
Chen said Liu also proposed cross-strait coadministration of reefs in the South China Sea and unifying the administration of the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島) and Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, 太平島) in China’s newly developed Sansha City on Woody Island (Yongxing Island, 永興島).
Liu said that he no longer holds any position at any Chinese institution, adding that he would not further comment on the issue.
Chen said that the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) also commissioned Academia Sinica Institute of European and American Studies research fellow Song Yann-huei (宋燕輝) to conduct research on the impact of South China Sea disputes on cross-strait relations. Chen said the study called for cross-strait collaboration under the “one China” framework, “since the South China Sea has historically been Chinese territorial waters.”
Song’s research even proposed cross-strait cooperation to defend against US intervention in the South China Sea, Chen said.
Chen also panned the MAC for classifying the research report.
The MAC said that all proposals by academics are evaluated based on the government’s position, and therefore there would be no cross-strait cooperation on the issue under the “one China” framework.
Song said that his research was mostly an analysis of the US’ South China Sea policy with no mention of cross-strait issues. However, he said that he could disclose no further information, as the project was commissioned with the condition that he not share its content.
Chen also questioned why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs endorsed Liu, who clearly has a pro-China stance, to represent the government at the Shangri-La Dialogue.
Ministry spokesperson Anna Kao (高安) said that all participants were invited by forum organizers, and that the ministry did not endorse the participation of any specific individual.
ENTERTAINERS IN CHINA: Taiwanese generally back the government being firm on infiltration and ‘united front’ work,’ the Asia-Pacific Elite Interchange Association said Most people support the government probing Taiwanese entertainers for allegedly “amplifying” the Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda, a survey conducted by the Asia-Pacific Elite Interchange Association showed on Friday. Public support stood at 56.4 percent for action by the Mainland Affairs Council and the Ministry of Culture to enhance scrutiny on Taiwanese performers and artists who have developed careers in China while allegedly adhering to the narrative of Beijing’s propaganda that denigrates or harms Taiwanese sovereignty, the poll showed. Thirty-three percent did not support the action, it showed. The poll showed that 51.5 percent of respondents supported the government’s investigation into Taiwanese who have
South Korean K-pop girl group Blackpink are to make Kaohsiung the first stop on their Asia tour when they perform at Kaohsiung National Stadium on Oct. 18 and 19, the event organizer said yesterday. The upcoming performances will also make Blackpink the first girl group ever to perform twice at the stadium. It will be the group’s third visit to Taiwan to stage a concert. The last time Blackpink held a concert in the city was in March 2023. Their first concert in Taiwan was on March 3, 2019, at NTSU Arena (Linkou Arena). The group’s 2022-2023 “Born Pink” tour set a
A Philippine official has denied allegations of mistreatment of crew members during Philippine authorities’ boarding of a Taiwanese fishing vessel on Monday. Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) spokesman Nazario Briguera on Friday said that BFAR law enforcement officers “observed the proper boarding protocols” when they boarded the Taiwanese vessel Sheng Yu Feng (昇漁豐號) and towed it to Basco Port in the Philippines. Briguera’s comments came a day after the Taiwanese captain of the Sheng Yu Feng, Chen Tsung-tun (陳宗頓), held a news conference in Pingtung County and accused the Philippine authorities of mistreatment during the boarding of
88.2 PERCENT INCREASE: The variants driving the current outbreak are not causing more severe symptoms, but are ‘more contagious’ than previous variants, an expert said Number of COVID-19 cases in the nation is surging, with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) describing the ongoing wave of infections as “rapid and intense,” and projecting that the outbreak would continue through the end of July. A total of 19,097 outpatient and emergency visits related to COVID-19 were reported from May 11 to Saturday last week, an 88.2 percent increase from the previous week’s 10,149 visits, CDC data showed. The nearly 90 percent surge in case numbers also marks the sixth consecutive weekly increase, although the total remains below the 23,778 recorded during the same period last year,
RSS