The Democratic Progressive Party headquarters yesterday turned down President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) invitation to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to meet at a memorial service marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國).
DPP spokesman Tseng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) said Tsai would not meet Ma for discussion in that context.
“The chairperson will not accept the invitation to attend the event,” Cheng said. “Ma has turned the memorial service into a promotional event for himself. It would be inappropriate for the chairperson to attend.”
Cheng made the comment yesterday afternoon, adding that Tsai would send a written reply to the president.
“We still believe that an open debate would be the best way to let the people know the direction of Taiwan’s future,” he said.
Earlier yesterday, Presidential Office Secretary-General Chan Chun-po (詹春柏) delivered an invitation at Ma’s request to DPP Caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) to give to Tsai.
The DPP, meanwhile, extended an invitation to Ma to attend tomorrow’s State Affairs Forum, co-sponsored by the DPP and the Taiwan Solidarity Union.
Cheng said minority groups would participate at the forum, adding that Ma should take the opportunity to listen to the nation’s marginalized voices.
Talk about a meeting between Ma and Tsai has been in the air, but Ma and Tsai have not agreed on an agenda or the format of any discussion.
In related news, Cheng yesterday said Tsai would visit the US and Canada early next month to raise funds for the party’s candidates in the year-end city and county elections.
During the 10-day trip, Tsai will attend an executive committee meeting of Liberal International scheduled for May 1 to May 3 in Vancouver, Canada, to promote party diplomacy and enhance Taiwan’s international visibility, Cheng said.
Tsai will then head to the US to meet expatriates, though the details of her itinerary have not been finalized, he said.
DPP sources said Tsai would visit several US think tanks, such as the Foreign Policy Research Institute, the Brookings Institution and the Heritage Foundation.
Tsai will also visit officials of the new US administration to explain the DPP’s goals and activities and discuss Taiwan’s political situation, the sources said.
The DPP chairperson also plans to visit Southeast Asian countries to meet overseas party members and expatriates there, the sources said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS