KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
Accompanied by KMT Vice Chairmen Vincent Siew (
"It would help uphold the mutual goal of the unification of Taiwan and China, while at the same time retaining room for both sides to develop under separate political systems," Lien said.
PHOTO: LU CHUN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES
"A new era has begun and we should strive to open up a window of opportunity for all Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait," Lien added.
Lien said that the "confederation" idea was actually engendered a year ago when he was preparing for the 2000 presidential election. A planned speech on the idea was leaked, allowing the rival camp of then presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian (
When being asked to highlight the difference between his idea and the "integration" (
Meanwhile, Lien said that he does not exclude the possibility of visiting China if doing so could bring about a substantial change in cross-strait relations.
CSBC Corp, Taiwan (台灣國際造船) yesterday released the first video documenting the submerged sea trials of Taiwan’s indigenous defense submarine prototype, the Hai Kun (海鯤), or Narwhal, showing underwater navigation and the launch of countermeasures. The footage shows the vessel’s first dive, steering and control system tests, and the raising and lowering of the periscope and antenna masts. It offered a rare look at the progress in the submarine’s sea acceptance tests. The Hai Kun carried out its first shallow-water diving trial late last month and has since completed four submerged tests, CSBC said. The newly released video compiles images recorded from Jan. 29 to
DETERRENCE EFFORTS: Washington and partners hope demonstrations of force would convince Beijing that military action against Taiwan would carry high costs The US is considering using HMAS Stirling in Western Australia as a forward base to strengthen its naval posture in a potential conflict with China, particularly over Taiwan, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. As part of its Indo-Pacific strategy, Washington plans to deploy up to four nuclear-powered submarines at Stirling starting in 2027, providing a base near potential hot spots such as Taiwan and the South China Sea. The move also aims to enhance military integration with Pacific allies under the Australia-UK-US trilateral security partnership, the report said. Currently, US submarines operate from Guam, but the island could
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Taiwanese trade negotiators told Washington that Taipei would not relocate 40 percent of its semiconductor production to the US, and that its most advanced technologies would remain in the nation, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) said on Sunday. “I told the US side very clearly — that’s impossible,” Cheng, who led the negotiation team, said in an interview that aired on Sunday night on Chinese Television System. Cheng was referring to remarks last month by US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, in which he said his goal was to bring 40 percent of Taiwan’s chip supply chain to the US Taiwan’s almost