Former legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) yesterday deflected questions on whether he turned down an offer to serve as Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman.
After months of equivocation and speculation, Wang, a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator-at-large, continued to be vague on the issue, but showed his disinclination when answering questions about the SEF chairmanship.
When asked whether he has rejected President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) offer to assume the post, Wang said it was not appropriate for him to comment on the issue.
With the cross-strait relationship stalled, Wang said that while he understands both sides’ stances, he is “in no position to talk about the issue; this is a national policy and I have no right to intervene.”
Pressed on whether he thinks that cross-strait interactions would be difficult regardless of who is to head the foundation, Wang said, “I do not know; maybe someone else can do a better job.”
When asked yesterday afternoon whether it is true that he has turned down Tsai’s offer, Wang said that there was no such thing as turning down, as the administration’s decision “is to be respected.”
KMT Legislator Lee Yan-hsiu (李彥秀) said the greatest hurdle to the resumption of official cross-strait interaction is that China wants the so-called “1992 consensus” to be the foundation for cross-strait communication.
The “1992 consensus,” a term former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) admitted making up in 2000, refers to a tacit understanding between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese government that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
“If a new model that could be accepted by both sides of the Taiwan Strait fails to come up, no matter who heads [the SEF], even if it was Wang, there would be no chance for the cross-strait relationship to resume,” she added.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Gao Jyh-peng (高志鵬) interpreted the remarks differently, saying the sensitivity of the position would have KMT members believe that Wang, if he takes over the job, is to help Tsai reconnect the cross-strait communication channel.
For those KMT members who have already been suspicious about Wang’s fidelity to the party, “[accepting Tsai’s offer] would be a further mistake,” Gao said.
“I think he would not even accept to fill a seat on the SEF board or any other minor position,” Gao added.
Starbucks Taiwan’s decision to charge for drink customization, which had been free, has sparked consumer backlash, highlighting the challenge of raising prices without making customers feel they are losing value, experts said. Since Oct. 12, customers who order drinks with less or no ice and ask to have the volume topped up with milk or other liquid have been charged an additional NT$15. Topping off drinks without ice was previously free, and disgruntled customers posted photos on social media showing that iced drinks ordered without ice were only half full if the extra NT$15 was not paid. The posts drew tens of thousands
EXPLANATION: Tsai said he attended events featuring various interviewees to observe them firsthand as part of his interview research Television host Kevin Tsai (蔡康永) last night broke his silence over a controversy surrounding his appearance at a campaign event for Democratic Progressive Party Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen (沈伯洋), saying he had never supported Taiwan independence. “I have always hoped for friendly cross-strait relations. I have never supported Taiwan independence,” Tsai wrote in a post on the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo. Tsai, who has hosted television shows in China, attended the opening of Shen’s campaign headquarters on Oct. 4, drawing criticism from Chinese social media users and prompting some Chinese companies to distance themselves from him. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office
The husband of a Taiwanese woman stabbed to death at a hotel in Japan has been detained on suspicion of entering into a sham marriage and taking out high-value insurance policies in her name, Tainan prosecutors said today. A woman surnamed Ching (井), 38, was killed on Monday last week at a tourist hotel in Fujikawaguchiko, Japan. A Taiwanese woman surnamed Yang (楊) was arrested by Japanese police on suspicion of murder, Tainan District Prosecutors’ Office deputy chief prosecutor Wang Sheng-hao (王聖豪) said. Investigators suspect that Ching's new husband, surnamed Lee (李), 29, arranged a sham marriage, encouraged her to travel to Japan
Taiwan’s AH-64E Apache attack helicopters have been grounded for inspections following a US technical notification about gearbox risks, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said yesterday. Speaking briefly to reporters before a legislative committee hearing, Koo said the army would deploy AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters and OH-58D reconnaissance helicopters to carry out readiness missions during the inspection period. He did not elaborate on the inspection requirements or how long the Apaches would remain grounded. According to a US Army Public Affairs release issued on Oct. 2, the US Army has ordered an immediate, temporary pause in flight operations for AH-64E Apache helicopters
RSS