Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) yesterday defended a controversial trip to China by party Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia (夏立言) as “brave,” even as Hsia faced protests upon his return to Taiwan.
The timing of Hsia’s trip generated controversy, as the KMT delegation arrived in China on Aug. 10, six days after Beijing launched a high-pressure military and economic campaign against Taiwan following US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei from Aug. 2 to 3.
Chu said that Hsia and other members of the delegation were “very brave and determined,” and it was important to keep lines of communication open to prevent conflict.
Photo: CNA
Members of Taiwan Statebuilding Party on Saturday led a protest at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport upon Hsia’s arrival, holding signs saying that he was selling out Taiwan and demanding that Hsia and the members of his delegation be sent back to China.
During a virtual news conference held shortly after returning, Hsia said the trip across the Taiwan Strait was aimed at looking after the needs of Taiwanese living in China.
He said he used his meetings with Chinese officials to convey the concerns of the Taiwanese community in the country over Beijing’s military drills around Taiwan.
He told his hosts that the military exercises were not helpful to peaceful development, and that the vast majority of Taiwanese were uneasy, worried and dissatisfied with the drills, he said.
The Mainland Affairs Council said that Hsia was playing politics ahead of November’s local elections and that his visit played into Beijing’s “united front” efforts.
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