The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus yesterday slammed a proposal by New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) presidential candidate, to permit a “significant number” of Chinese students to study and work in Taiwan, saying it would be detrimental to young Taiwanese.
At an event on Monday hosted by nine major industrial and business groups, Hou said that if elected, he would reinitiate cross-strait dialogue on the premise that Taiwan’s dignity would not be compromised and that the talks would be held in good faith.
The talks would include lifting a ban on Chinese tour groups and allowing a “significant number” of Chinese to study and work in Taiwan.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
DPP caucus director-general Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said that allowing low-wage and low-skilled Chinese to work in Taiwan would adversely affect Taiwan’s international competitiveness.
Such policies would severely affect Taiwanese industries, DPP caucus secretary-general Chuang Jui-hsiung (莊瑞雄) said, adding: “There is no need for such overt pandering.”
DPP legislative candidate Tseng Po-yu (曾柏瑜) said that Japan and Germany have warned about spying by Chinese students, and such a policy would pose a significant threat to national security.
DPP legislative candidate Justin Wu (吳崢) asked whether Hou’s platform was similar to the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) touted by former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), adding that Hou’s policy seemed to be offering aid to China.
Independent Legislator Freddy Lim (林昶佐) said the international community is trying to contain China and Russia, and called on the KMT to take note of international trends and think of the next generation.
Separately, DPP spokesman Chang Chih-hao (張志豪) said that Hou’s comments lacked careful thought and his platform rehashes a policy that was rejected by the Taiwanese public a decade ago.
Hou evidently thinks that a China-reliant economy is the only way out, he added.
Separately, Hou’s campaign office spokesman, Chen Po-han (陳柏翰), accused the DPP of again resorting to smear tactics to win the election.
Vice President William Lai (賴清德), the DPP’s presidential candidate, had said in 2008, when he was a legislator, that “Chinese war jets will follow on the tails of its civilian airliners, or the airliners will be carrying People’s Liberation Army soldiers.”
None of those predictions have come true, and despite the DPP’s proclaimed hatred for the ECFA, it has not unilaterally halted the agreements under it, Chen said.
Hou’s policy hopes to de-escalate tension and promote mutual understanding, he said, adding that Hou has consistently opposed China’s “one country, two systems” platform.
Hou will continue to oversee the strengthening of Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities and uphold the free and democratic government of the Republic of China, he added.
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