Tens of thousands of people participated in the Lungshan Temple march -- one of the ten routes of yesterday's rally against the "Anti-Secession" Law. The march was led by Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) lawmakers and two large images of the No. 7 Lord and No. 8 Lord. The two gods represent law and order, and their duty is going after evil spirits in the underworld.
Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), spiritual leader of TSU, told the media before proceeding to another segment of the rally that it's time for the government to think of new ways to deal with its bullying neighbor, China.
"The people of Taiwan must understand that Taiwan has been an independent nation and has recognized China as a nation since May, 1, 1991 when I announced the abolishment of the Temporary Provisions Effective during the `Period of National Mobilization for the Suppression of the Communist Rebellion' (動員勘亂時期臨時條款)," he said.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
As the move signified the termination of the status of civil war between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Chinese Communist Party, Lee said that there is no pro-Taiwan-independence power existing in Taiwan as China claims.
Lee also revealed that Taiwan Advocates (群策會), where he serves as a board director, is scheduled to hold a meeting today to review government policies and offer their suggestions.
The procession started at Manka Boulevard and Wanda Road and went on along Heping West Road before merging with another parade coming from National Taiwan University. The two processions then proceeded to the final congregation point near the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. When the procession reached Ningpo West Street, they used a boom truck to reach the street sign and cover it with a new one reading Democracy Road. Ningpo is a city in China.
They also changed Nanchung Street, also named after a Chinese city, to Freedom Road.
Manka Boulevard used to be called Shantou Street, after a Chinese city, but changed to its current name about three years ago.
Mark Cartwright, a 27-year-old English teacher from California, urged officials to refrain from being brash but to be swift and frank in issuing rebuttals in the face of China's "Anti-Secession" Law.
"It may be time for our members of government, led by our president, to set aside typical diplomatic inhibitions and declare as a matter of public record several truths that bear observing and acknowledging," he said.
Those truths include the fact that Taiwan is a sovereign nation, that the people of Taiwan democratically elect their president and that they serve in their nation's indigenous military, he said.
Failure by Taiwan's global neighbors to recognize these truths constitutes an irresponsible negligence that now threatens the safety and well-being of Taiwan's peoples and the stability of the East Asian region, he added.
"In the face of this present aggression by China, it is imperative that Taiwan's leaders act with immediacy to utterly dispel China's threats and false allegations," he said.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
RESPONSE: The government would investigate incidents of Taiwanese entertainers in China promoting CCP propaganda online in contravention of the law, the source said Taiwanese entertainers living in China who are found to have contravened cross-strait regulations or collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be subject to fines, a source said on Sunday. Several Taiwanese entertainers have posted on the social media platform Sina Weibo saying that Taiwan “must be returned” to China, and sharing news articles from Chinese state media. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has asked the Ministry of Culture to investigate whether the entertainers had contravened any laws, and asked for them to be questioned upon their return to Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said. To curb repeated
Myanmar has turned down an offer of assistance from Taiwanese search-and-rescue teams after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the nation on Friday last week, saying other international aid is sufficient, the National Fire Agency said yesterday. More than 1,700 have been killed and 3,400 injured in the quake that struck near the central Myanmar city of Mandalay early on Friday afternoon, followed minutes later by a magnitude 6.7 aftershock. Worldwide, 13 international search-and-rescue teams have been deployed, with another 13 teams mobilizing, the agency said. Taiwan’s search-and-rescue teams were on standby, but have since been told to stand down, as