President-elect Chen Shui-bian (
"There have been proposals to invite the Dalai Lama, but we have yet to finalize the invitation list," said Li Wang-tai (李旺台), a spokesman for the DPP.
Li said the DPP, which was preparing invitations on Chen's behalf, was aware that China opposed a visit by the Dalai Lama, but said Chen had the right to invite anyone.
"Being the president-elect, Chen Shui-bian has the right to decide who to invite to his inauguration," Li said.
Because Tibet and Taiwan are perceived by Beijing as a threat to China's internal stability, the Dalai Lama's actions are watched and scrutinized closely by leaders on the mainland.
"The Dalai Lama has long been engaged in activities aimed at splitting the motherland. His political purpose for visiting Taiwan is quite obvious," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said Tuesday.
"We are opposed to any attempt by any person to conduct political activities to split the motherland and undermine national harmony by whatever means," Sun said.
The Dalai Lama, regarded by Tibetan Buddhists as a god-king, last visited Taiwan in March 1997.
He fled his Himalayan homeland with thousands of followers in 1959 after an anti-Communist uprising failed.
He went on to establish a government-in-exile in Dharamsala, India.
Beijing later assailed the Dalai Lama's 1997 Taiwan visit, saying it was aimed at severing both Tibet and Taiwan from China.
Li said the DPP would seriously consider China's attitude as it drew up the invitation list, but added that "we shouldn't quit just because we are afraid of being criticized."
A top official with the Tibetan government-in-exile has expressed a wish to attend Chen's inauguration.
Speaking in Dharamsala, Kalon Sonam Topgyal said he would attend if invited.
Sonam Topgyal, chairman of Kashag -- the cabinet of the exiled Tibetan government -- hailed Chen's election in an interview with Taiwan's Liberty Times Monday.
"The choice of the candidate China most loathed was a punch on the nose of the Chinese leaders," he said.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-Wong tomorrow, which it said would possibly make landfall near central Taiwan. As of 2am yesterday, Fung-Wong was about 1,760km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving west-northwest at 26kph. It is forecast to reach Luzon in the northern Philippines by tomorrow, the CWA said. After entering the South China Sea, Typhoon Fung-Wong is likely to turn northward toward Taiwan, CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張峻堯) said, adding that it would likely make landfall near central Taiwan. The CWA expects to issue a land
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The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it is expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-wong this afternoon and a land warning tomorrow. As of 1pm, the storm was about 1,070km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, and was moving west-northwest at 28 to 32kph, according to CWA data. The storm had a radius of 250km, with maximum sustained winds of 173kph and gusts reaching 209kph, the CWA added. The storm is forecast to pass near Luzon in the Philippines before entering the South China Sea and potentially turning northward toward Taiwan, the CWA said. CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張峻堯) said
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