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 (
A strong continental cold air mass is to bring pollutants to Taiwan from tomorrow, the Ministry of Environment said today, as it issued an “orange” air quality alert for most of the country. All of Taiwan except for Hualien and Taitung counties is to be under an “orange” air quality alert tomorrow, indicating air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. In China, areas from Shandong to Shanghai have been enveloped in haze since Saturday, the ministry said in a news release. Yesterday, hourly concentrations of PM2.5 in these areas ranged from 65 to 160 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m³), and pollutants were
Taiwan’s armed forces have established response protocols for a wide range of sudden contingencies, including the “Wan Chun Plan” to protect the head of state, the Ministry of Defense (MND) said today. After US President Donald Trump on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, concerns have been raised as to whether China would launch a similar “decapitation strike” on Taiwan. The armed forces regularly coordinate with relevant agencies and practice drills to ensure preparedness for a wide range of scenarios, Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) told reporters before a
EVA Airways on Saturday said that it had suspended a pilot and opened an investigation after he allegedly lost his temper and punched the first officer several times as their plane was taxiing before takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport. According to a report published on Thursday by The Reporter, the incident occurred after the flight’s Malaysian first officer tried to warn the Taiwanese pilot, surnamed Wen (文), that he was taxiing faster than the speed limit of 30 knots (55.6kph). After alerting the pilot several times without response, the first officer manually applied the brakes in accordance with standard operating
The New Taipei City Social Welfare Department on Thursday celebrated Paralympic competitor Chen Tzu-wei (張孜維), who received last year’s national Golden Eagle award for exemplary achievement by Taiwanese with disabilities. Chen, who suffers from childhood-onset muscular dystrophy, did not attend the first award ceremony held by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in November due to illness. Chen was formally presented with the award at the department, where he gave thanks to government workers for supporting his education and livelihood, the department said in a statement. Chen was raised by the Ai-hsin Home for Persons with Disabilities in the city’s Bali District (八里)
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