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 (
Three batches of banana sauce imported from the Philippines were intercepted at the border after they were found to contain the banned industrial dye Orange G, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. From today through Sept. 2 next year, all seasoning sauces from the Philippines are to be subject to the FDA’s strictest border inspection, meaning 100 percent testing for illegal dyes before entry is allowed, it said in a statement. Orange G is an industrial coloring agent that is not permitted for food use in Taiwan or internationally, said Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智), head of the FDA’s Northern Center for
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The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
UNDER PRESSURE: The report cited numerous events that have happened this year to show increased coercion from China, such as military drills and legal threats The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aims to reinforce its “one China” principle and the idea that Taiwan belongs to the People’s Republic of China by hosting celebratory events this year for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the “retrocession” of Taiwan and the establishment of the UN, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in its latest report to the Legislative Yuan. Taking advantage of the significant anniversaries, Chinese officials are attempting to assert China’s sovereignty over Taiwan through interviews with international news media and cross-strait exchange events, the report said. Beijing intends to reinforce its “one China” principle
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