■ 'One China' policy
US position unchanged
The US "one China" policy, which includes not supporting Taiwan independence, has not changed, a senior US administration official said Sunday. The official told media in Washington that US President George W. Bush reiterated the "one China" policy during a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) Saturday ahead of the APEC leaders summit being held yesterday and today in Bangkok. "The president reiterated our `one China' policy, noting that it has not changed, that we have a `one China' policy that is based on the three communiques, the Taiwan Relations Act and the fact that we don't support Taiwan moving toward independence," the official said. The official made the remarks in response to a reporter's question about how the Hu-Bush discussion about Taiwan came up. Hu told the media in Bangkok after the meeting with Bush that "President Bush expressed opposition to Taiwan independence in the meeting."
■ Politics
Lien visits Washington
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) arrived in Washington Sunday afternoon from Boston by train for a four-day visit. While in Washington, Lien will participate in activities sponsored by the American Enterprise Institute and other organizations. Lien will also meet with overseas Chinese leaders from the greater Washington area.
■ Education
Ma urges cooperation
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) urged Southeast Asian universities to step up cooperation with universities in Taiwan, when he received more than 30 Asian university presidents in his office yesterday. Ma told the educators, who are here to attend the 2003 Southeast Asian University Presidents' Conference, that it is necessary for the universities to improve their cooperation at a time when economic integration is accelerating in Asia. More than 100 university presidents from eight other countries and Taiwan are attending the two-day conference.
■ Development
Offshore islands key
The Ministry of the Interior's South China Sea Committee held its seventh meeting yesterday to discuss the management and developments of the nation's offshore islands and territorial waters, including disputed areas in the South China Sea. The committee will formulate preliminary plans within a month and then report to the Executive Yuan. Minister of the Interior Yu Cheng-hsien (余政憲) visited the Spratly Islands on Aug. 16 and found the position of the islands important. Yu said he felt the responsibility of managing the islands is an enormous task.
■ Transportation
CAL serves hot food again
Taiwan's largest air carrier said yesterday it is resuming the supply of hot meals on Taipei-Hong Kong flights after they had been suspended due to SARS. China Airlines (CAL) said the hot-meal service was scheduled to be restored on the route on Nov. 1. The air carrier suspended the service as a precaution against SARS. Passengers had stopped eating the meals because they did not want to take off their masks during flights. Instead, the airline offered cold meals that passengers could take with them when they got off the plane. Currently CAL operates 16 round trip flights each day to Hong Kong from Taipei and Kaohsiung.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
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