Taiwan vows to enhance comprehensive ties with Southeast Asian countries despite Beijing's continuing endeavors to squeeze Taipei internationally, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Katharine Chang (張小月) said yesterday.
"Not a long time ago, the foreign ministry informed our representative offices in Southeast Asian countries to endeavor to enhance exchanges with these countries," Chang said in a press conference yesterday.
Chang said Taiwan has established substantive ties with various Southeast Asian countries over the years, and it's time to cement these ties further, especially after President Chen Shui-bian's (
"Aside from existing substantive ties, we hope that bilateral visits of political figures, both in terms of frequency and level of representation, will grow over time," Chang said.
Chang put the blame on Beijing for having endeavored to conduct a "zero-sum" game with Taipei on diplomatic frontlines.
"We are unwilling to go ahead with a `zero-sum' diplomatic battle with Beijing, as we consider it meaningless. Both sides should sit down and talk to each other," Chang said.
"But instead, China has endeavored to suppress us, leaving us with no space. The question is on their side, nor ours," Chang continued.
Chang also said she found it a "pity" when she learnt of recent remarks by Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Lauro Baja with regard to Manila's refusal to accept any possible visit by Chen regardless of his visiting capacity.
"With regard to his remarks, I found it quite a pity. It's crystal clear that China was the behind-the-scenes instigator," Chang said.
Baja said on Monday of Manila's refusal to allow Chen to visit the country: "Whether he's [referring to Chen] coming in as a private citizen, official or as chairman of a political party, no way."
China's embassy in Jakarta announced yesterday that Li Peng (
The announcement came after Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) completed a four-day surprise visit to Indonesia. Lu was barred from entry into Jakarta last Wednesday due to Beijing's stark opposition and went to Bali instead. Lu then managed to slip into Jakarta on her return journey after wrapping up a short stay on the resort island.
During her visit to Indonesia, Lu managed to meet with various incumbent and former officials as well as congressmen.
While local newspapers said Lu's trip successfully cracked the door open to Indonesia, taking advantage of Taiwan's plan to import US$11.8 billion worth of natural gas over 25 years, Chang stressed that related procurement procedures should be in accordance with WTO rules.
"The vice president never made any promise with regard to this procurement, nor did she conduct any consultations [during her visit to Indonesia]," Chang said.
Meanwhile, visiting Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel A. Roxas said in Taipei yesterday that the Philippines is one of the best destinations for Taiwanese companies to set up computer software and electronics-parts production facilities.
Roxas made the statement at the opening of an annual joint conference of the private ROC-Philippines Economic Council and Philippines-ROC Economic Council, which is being held in connection with the 10th ROC-Philippines Economic Cooperation Conference, an official event.
Roxas said Taiwan's direct investment in the Philippines has reached US$381 million over the past 10 years.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
A wild live dugong was found in Taiwan for the first time in 88 years, after it was accidentally caught by a fisher’s net on Tuesday in Yilan County’s Fenniaolin (粉鳥林). This is the first sighting of the species in Taiwan since 1937, having already been considered “extinct” in the country and considered as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A fisher surnamed Chen (陳) went to Fenniaolin to collect the fish in his netting, but instead caught a 3m long, 500kg dugong. The fisher released the animal back into the wild, not realizing it was an endangered species at
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and
RSS