An official of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) urged the new leadership of China yesterday to adopt a more pragmatic approach in dealing with cross-strait relations.
Vice Chairman Chen Ming-tong (
"We hope that China's new generation of leaders ... continue its policy of liberalization while seeking further development in stability ? we also wish that cross-strait talks could be held as soon as possible without setting any precondition, especially dwarfing Taiwan's status," Chen said.
He said that when China moves toward democracy, freedom and openness, it will benefit peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as cross-strait relations.
In his address to the opening of the party congress last Friday, President Jiang Zemin (
Chen said the main obstacle regarding cross-strait relations lies in China's ignoring the fact that Taiwan is a sovereign state, and he expressed hope that the new leadership will "understand and respect" the democratic mechanism in Taiwan and adopt a more pragmatic approach in dealing with cross-strait relations.
He stressed that Taiwan hopes China will not denigrate Taiwan's stance as a prerequisite to re-opening the stalled cross-strait dialogue and that both sides of the Taiwan Strait can resume talks on related matters as soon as possible, so that both sides can move toward "harmony, stability, and reciprocity."
"We hope they will face the reality of Taiwan's existence and re-open talks with Taiwan to improve bilateral relations," said Chen.
Meanwhile, a KMT official said yesterday that although Jiang has stepped down from his post as the party's general secretary, he has packed the new nine-member standing committee of the Politburo with his allies and can still pull the strings behind the scenes, so that there is therefore no breakthrough in the new leadership.
Chang Jung-kung (
Meanwhile, the Director of the DPP's Department of the Mainland Affairs, Chen Chung-hsin (陳忠信) also expressed his congratulations to the new Chinese leadership for their smooth transition of power yesterday.
"We are glad to see China's leadership transition going smoothly," he said.
NO HUMAN ERROR: After the incident, the Coast Guard Administration said it would obtain uncrewed aerial vehicles and vessels to boost its detection capacity Authorities would improve border control to prevent unlawful entry into Taiwan’s waters and safeguard national security, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after a Chinese man reached the nation’s coast on an inflatable boat, saying he “defected to freedom.” The man was found on a rubber boat when he was about to set foot on Taiwan at the estuary of Houkeng River (後坑溪) near Taiping Borough (太平) in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口), authorities said. The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) northern branch said it received a report at 6:30am yesterday morning from the New Taipei City Fire Department about a
IN BEIJING’S FAVOR: A China Coast Guard spokesperson said that the Chinese maritime police would continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters it claims The Philippines withdrew its coast guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that has recently been at the center of tensions with Beijing. BRP Teresa Magbanua “was compelled to return to port” from Sabina Shoal (Xianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙) due to bad weather, depleted supplies and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela said yesterday in a post on X. The Philippine vessel “will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission” after it has been resupplied and repaired, Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who heads the nation’s maritime council, said
REGIONAL STABILITY: Taipei thanked the Biden administration for authorizing its 16th sale of military goods and services to uphold Taiwan’s defense and safety The US Department of State has approved the sale of US$228 million of military goods and services to Taiwan, the US Department of Defense said on Monday. The state department “made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale” to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US for “return, repair and reshipment of spare parts and related equipment,” the defense department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a news release. Taiwan had requested the purchase of items and services which include the “return, repair and reshipment of classified and unclassified spare parts for aircraft and related equipment; US Government
More than 500 people on Saturday marched in New York in support of Taiwan’s entry to the UN, significantly more people than previous years. The march, coinciding with the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly, comes close on the heels of growing international discourse regarding the meaning of UN Resolution 2758. Resolution 2758, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1971, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the “only lawful representative of China.” It resulted in the Republic of China (ROC) losing its seat at the UN to the PRC. Taiwan has since been excluded from
RSS