In consideration of US President George W. Bush's upcoming visit to China, a special task force is to be set up within the foreign ministry to keep a close watch on any developments related to the visit, sources said yesterday.
According to a ministry press release, Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (
The special unit is also to offer analysis on Bush's Beijing visit to the Executive Yuan and the Presidential Office in a timely manner, the statement said.
The press release also revealed that the ministry has scheduled an unprecedented joint meeting with the defense ministry in mid-March in order to enhance coordination between the two agencies.
During a meeting yesterday, Chien noted that, according to the Constitution, the president is the key architect of Taiwan's foreign policy. Chien asked his coworkers to keep this in mind and implement the president's ideas, the statement said.
During a spring-festival reception Chien hosted for the Taipei-based diplomatic corps yesterday evening, the minister said Taiwan's accession to the WTO opened up new avenues to expand economic ties and new channels through which Taiwan can share experiences and resources with the international community.
The minister also reminded his audience of his goal to "further promote and consolidate" ties with Taiwan's diplomatic allies as well as countries that do not recognize Taiwan.
In related news, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), addressing a reception at a Taipei hotel yesterday, also reiterated his wish to sit down with Chinese President Jiang Zemin (江澤民) to discuss "a new framework" for peace across the Taiwan Strait.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS