The US sent warnings to the Taiwanese government against changing the status quo through recent comments by the US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia, James Kelly, and American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) deputy director David Keegan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (陳唐山) said yesterday.
Attending a legislative question-and-answer session for the first time since he took office two weeks ago, Chen was bombarded with questions from lawmakers.
Presidential Office Secretary-General Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) wrapped up his 36-hour visit to Washington and returned to Taipei yesterday. At the top of his agenda in Washington was explaining President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) constitutional reform plan.
Mark Chen said the US' concerns about the new constitution were caused by its insufficient understanding of the plan to overhaul the document.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided its overseas embassies and representative offices with documents of Chen Shui-bian's announcements concerning constitutional reform so that they could explain the plan to their host countries, Mark Chen said.
The contents of Chen Shui-bian's inauguration speech on May 20 and the candidate to succeed Chen Chien-jen (
Chiou's trip to the US was of a low profile and his agenda was kept confidential.
Mark Chen, answering a question from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim (
The purpose of keeping Chiou's US visit secret was to build mutual trust between Taipei and Washington, Mark Chen said. Hsiao, however, questioned ministry officials' loyalty and said it is possible that some officials leaked information about Chiou's trip.
People First Party Legislator Sun Ta-chien (孫大千) said Chiou's secret trip to the US revealed that the Presidential Office's distrust of the ministry has alienated the ministry from the diplomatic decision-making process.
Mark Chen said he would soon discuss details of Chiou's trip in a meeting.
Mark Chen confirmed that the Presidential Office wanted Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to succeed Chen Chien-jen as the country's top representative in the US.
The minister dismissed media reports that Chiou, Hsiao, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Kau (高英茂) and DPP Legislator Parris Chang (張旭成) were possible candidates for the position.
The Presidential Office has asked Tsai about her intention to take over the job. According to Mark Chen, Tsai is "the only candidate" Chen Shui-bian has in his mind for the post.
Tsai, known for her attachment to her family, is still on leave and has previously shown little interest in taking the post, which will send her far away from home.
DPP Legislator Chen Chung-hsin (
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
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Pro-democracy activists and women’s rights groups yesterday held outdoor performances to commemorate victims of the White Terror era, when the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) suppressed political dissidents, and called for May 19 to be restored a national holiday. The then-KMT government on May 19, 1949, declared martial law in Taiwan, which lasted until July 15, 1987. More than 40 organizations, headed by the Koo Kwang-ming Foundation and the Tsai Jui-yueh Dance Foundation, yesterday gathered in front of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei to hold cultural and artistic performances and demand that May 19 be designated as a national holiday
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