The recent death of Taiwan's top negotiator with China has brought about a new era in cross-strait relations, noted Chinese dissident Wei Jinsheng (
Wei recalled the significance of a historic 1993 meeting between then Straits Exchange Foundation chairman Koo Chen-fu (
Wei said the event was historic because it would not have been possible with Koo's efforts alone, noting that China was isolated in the international community following the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and was more willing to negotiate, while Koo had the full authorization of then-president Lee Teng-hui (
But with the changing times, cross-strait relations are now facing a new era, Wei said. He said that the US had hoped to solicit support from China in the war against Iraq and on the North Korea issue.
But Wei said he has heard State Department officials and friends in US think tanks complaining lately that Beijing has been dragging its feet on many issues, including North Korea and nuclear arms inspections in Iran.
Wei noted that after Chinese President Hu Jintao (
Taiwan should make good use of the situation to strengthen its international relations, he said.
Wei said that Taiwan should adjust its approach and strengthen its relations with Western countries to solicit wider support. It should also improve its publicity drive toward the Chinese to win their hearts, adding that it is futile to extend olive branches to the Beijing authorities.
STAY AWAY: An official said people should avoid disturbing snakes, as most do not actively attack humans, but would react defensively if threatened Taitung County authorities yesterday urged the public to stay vigilant and avoid disturbing snakes in the wild, following five reported snakebite cases in the county so far this year. Taitung County Fire Department secretary Lin Chien-cheng (林建誠) said two of the cases were in Donghe Township (東河) and involved the Taiwan habus, one person was bit by a Chinese pit viper near the South Link Railway and the remaining two were caused by unidentified snakes. He advised residents near fields to be cautious of snakes hiding in shady indoor areas, especially when entering or leaving their homes at night. In case of a
A tropical disturbance off the southeastern coast of the Philippines might become the first typhoon of the western Pacific typhoon season, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The system lacks a visible center and how it would develop is only likely to become clear on Sunday or Monday, the CWA said, adding that it was not yet possible to forecast the potential typhoon's effect on Taiwan. The American Meteorological Society defines a tropical disturbance as a system made up of showers and thunderstorms that lasts for at least 24 hours and does not have closed wind circulation.
ENERGY RESILIENCE: Although Alaska is open for investments, Taiwan is sourcing its gas from the Middle East, and the sea routes carry risks, Ho Cheng-hui said US government officials’ high-profile reception of a Taiwanese representative at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference indicated the emergence of an Indo-Pacific energy resilience alliance, an academic said. Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an (潘孟安) attended the conference in Alaska on Thursday last week at the invitation of the US government. Pan visited oil and gas facilities with senior US officials, including US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy and US Senator Daniel Sullivan. Pan attending the conference on behalf of President William Lai (賴清德) shows a significant elevation in diplomatic representation,
Credit departments of farmers’ and fishers’ associations blocked a total of more than NT$180 million (US$6.01 million) from being lost to scams last year, National Police Agency (NPA) data showed. The Agricultural Finance Agency (AFA) said last week that staff of farmers’ and fishers’ associations’ credit departments are required to implement fraud prevention measures when they serve clients at the counter. They would ask clients about personal financial management activities whenever they suspect there might be a fraud situation, and would immediately report the incident to local authorities, which would send police officers to the site to help, it said. NPA data showed
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