Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Wang, also a KMT vice chairman, apparently disagrees with most opposition politicians -- who have argued that the council should be a purely economic organization.
While the goals of the council are to restore public faith in the economy and put forth substantive solutions to economic problems, many economic issues are closely tied to politics, Wang said.
Examples include the opening of direct cross-strait transportation, trade and communication links as well as the relaxation of the "no haste, be patient" policy on investment in China, he said.
Wang said as long as representatives of political parties sit on the council, they will have the ability to give political endorsements.
That being so, the participation of party leaders is not necessary, Wang added.
Meanwhile, Yao Eng-chi (饒穎奇), vice speaker of the Legislative Yuan, who leads a group in charge of setting the council's agenda, said cross-strait economic and trade ties will be a major issue for the council.
Yao said that it was the uncertainty surrounding cross-strait relations that had caused people to lose faith in the economy, and that improvements in cross-strait relations would help solve the problem.
The council will be chaired by President Chen Shui-bian (
Wang and Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (
Chen originally intended to invite KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
The likelihood of Soong accepting the offer, meanwhile, is widely considered to be slim.
Other potential candidates for the position of vice chairman reportedly include Formosa Plastics Group (台塑集團) Chairman Wang Yung-ching (王永慶), Evergreen Group (長榮集團) Chairman Chang Yung-fa (張榮發) and Fubon Group (富邦集團) Chairman Tsai Wan-tsai (蔡萬才).
Japan has deployed long-range missiles in a southwestern region near China, the Japanese defense minister said yesterday, at a time when ties with Beijing are at their lowest in recent years. The missiles were installed in Kumamoto in the southern region of Kyushu, as Japan is attempting to shore up its military capacity as China steps up naval activity in the East China Sea. “Standoff defense capabilities enable us to counter the threat of enemy forces attempting to invade our country ... while ensuring the safety of our personnel,” Japanese Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi said. “This is an extremely important initiative for
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