China’s cross-strait agency yesterday apologized to the Taiwanese public for the scandal over melamine tainted food, a move that seems aimed at easing tension ahead of the meeting between top cross-strait negotiators next month.
The Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) issued a statement yesterday saying it had received a letter from its Chinese counterpart, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), asking the foundation to convey an apology to Taiwanese consumers and distributors for causing them trouble and losses.
“The incident has been confirmed as illegal dealing by some people,” the statement said.
“We will not appease anyone who sabotages the health of consumers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait,” it said.
The statement said ARATS would make every effort to mete out severe punishment to those held responsible and protect the rights of all consumers.
SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤) said that although the apology was a little late, it would have a positive impact on the meeting between him and ARATS Chairman Chen Yunlin (陳雲林).
The SEF has established a service center for consumers and distributors who wish to file a complaint or seek compensation from China, Chiang said, encouraging those affected to take advantage of the service.
Local consumers reacted angrily after 25 tonnes of milk powder imported from China in June was found to contain the industrial chemical melamine.
The government has asked China for compensation for Taiwanese consumers from the companies responsible. Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) has also demanded that Beijing apologize, unsuccessfully until yesterday.
The scare over Chinese food products has become a sensitive issue in bilateral relations ahead of a planned visit by Chen.
MAC Vice Chairman Liu Te-shun (劉德勳) yesterday said that the government would like to see Beijing take concrete action following the apology. Although it was made by ARATS, Liu said it carried the weight of an official apology.
SEF Secretary-General Kao Koong-lian (高孔廉), who led a delegation to Shenzhen for a preparatory consultation yesterday, told reporters after the four-hour meeting that Chen was scheduled to arrive in Taiwan next Monday for a five-day visit.
It will herald the first cross-strait negotiations held in Taiwan since both sides engaged in bilateral talks in 1992.
Kao said Chen would lead a 60-person delegation consisting of government officials and experts. Chen is expected to sign four agreements with Chiang.
The agreements would include direct aviation routes, direct sea transport, direct postal services and a food safety mechanism.
In addition to inking the accords, Kao said two forums would be held to discuss the impact of the global “financial tsunami” and other economic issues.
Liu said that Chen would also meet some government officials, but it was not yet clear if he would meet President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
If the two are to meet, Liu said, how Chen would address Ma would be “properly arranged.” Ma has said that he would not mind Chen calling him “Mr. Ma.”
While Chen would stay at the Grand Hotel, Liu said it was unlikely Chiang would meet Chen at the Taipei Guest House as the media have speculated.
Chen would also do some sightseeing, but he would not have time to visit central or southern Taiwan, Liu said.
Following incidents last week during a visit to Taiwan by ARATS Vice Chairman Zhang Mingqing (張銘清), Kao yesterday said every effort would be made to ensure “negotiations are conducted in an environment that is safe and comfortable.”
Meanwhile, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday said it would hold a large-scale “Nightwatch for Taiwan, say no to China” rally to protest Chen’s visit.
“The site, time and activities of the rally will be decided after the government releases the details of Chen Yunlin’s visit,” DPP spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) told a press conference.
He said the party had also proposed an evening rally to be held in Kaohsiung after Chen leaves.
The DPP, which co-hosted a rally on Saturday with the Taiwan Solidarity Union and a number of pro-localization groups, said that more than 600,000 people attended the rally.
The DPP said the rally had been a success and that it would continue to use “people power” to express its opposition to Chen’s visit and the government’s China-friendly policies.
Cheng said Saturday’s rally showed that Ma’s measures to weaken Taiwan’s sovereignty and his “one China” policy were not mainstream public opinion in Taiwan.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old