China should think about following the global trend and implement systemic reform that would result in long-term security, democratic freedom, human rights and the rule of law, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday.
The council issued the statement after China’s National People’s Congress yesterday ratified a constitutional amendment that abolishes presidential term limits, thereby enabling Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to rule indefinitely.
Saying it has yet to see a system of checks, balances and systematized guidelines to accompany the change, the council said that Taiwan’s government would continue to monitor China’s activity, and would carefully evaluate and respond to the situation.
Xi is likely to seek stability in cross-strait and foreign relations in his second term, but in the medium to long-term, considering his desire to fulfill the “Chinese dream,” a unification timetable might be revealed, Cross-Strait Policy Association secretary-general Wang Chih-sheng (王智盛) said.
However, in a third term, Xi would likely put greater pressure on Taiwan, so Taiwan must strengthen itself and accumulate “bargaining chips” now, Wang said.
The most important task is to ensure the cohesion and integration of opinions within Taiwan, he added.
Xi’s indefinite retention of power would affect the entire world, National Chengchi University Graduate Institute of East Asian Studies chairman Wang Hsin-hsien (王信賢) said.
The behavior of some democratic nations in recent years has made many people think that democracy has failed, he said, adding that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which has always been good at promotion, seized this opportunity and secured its power through a constitutional amendment.
“The leadership of the CCP is the most essential characteristic of China’s socialism with Chinese characteristics” was added to Article 1 of the Chinese constitution, he said.
This suggests that anyone who opposes the CCP is opposing the nation, he said, adding that the party could claim it is governing according to the constitution.
Former deputy minister of defense and former MAC deputy minister Lin Chung-pin (林中斌) said that Xi is now likely to increase the number of “soft” measures aimed at Taiwan in a bid to win the hearts of more Taiwanese.
PLA MANEUVERS: Although Beijing has yet to formally announce military drills, its coast guard vessels have been spotted near and around Taiwan since Friday The Taiwanese military is on high alert and is closely monitoring the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) air and naval deployments after Beijing yesterday reserved seven airspace areas east of its Zhejiang and Fujian provinces through Wednesday. Beijing’s action was perceived as a precursor to a potential third “Joint Sword” military exercise, which national security experts said the PLA could launch following President William Lai’s (賴清德) state visits to the nation’s three Pacific allies and stopovers in Hawaii and Guam last week. Unlike the Joint Sword military exercises in May and October, when Beijing provided detailed information about the affected areas, it
CHINA: The activities come amid speculation that Beijing might launch military exercises in response to Lai’s recent visit to Pacific allies The Ministry of National Defense (MND) yesterday said China had nearly doubled the number of its warships operating around the nation in the previous 24 hours, ahead of what security sources expect would be a new round of war games. China’s military activities come amid speculation Beijing might organize military drills around the nation in response to President William Lai’s (賴清德) recent visit to Pacific allies, including stops in Hawaii and Guam, a US territory. Lai returned from the week-long trip on Friday night. Beijing has held two rounds of war games around Taiwan this year, and sends ships and military planes
Five flights have been arranged to help nearly 2,000 Taiwanese tourists return home from Okinawa after being stranded due to cruise ship maintenance issues, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced yesterday. China Airlines Ltd (中華航空), and EVA Airways Corp (長榮航空) have arranged five flights with a total of 748 additional seats to transport 1,857 passengers from the MSC Bellissima back to Taiwan, the ministry said. The flights have been scheduled for yesterday and today by the Civil Aviation Administration, with the cruise operator covering all associated costs. The MSC Bellissima, carrying 4,341 passengers, departed from Keelung on Wednesday last week for Okinawa,
US president-elect Donald Trump said he would “never say” if Washington is committed to defending Taiwan from China, but “I would prefer that they do not do it [ an attack],” adding that he has a “good relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平). “I never say because I have to negotiate things, right?” Trump said in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press host Kristen Welker after saying he would not reveal his incoming administration’s stance on Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. Asked the question again, Trump, in a reference to China, said: “I would prefer that they
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