The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) will negotiate with government agencies about whether government authorization is required before KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) embarks on his trip to China to talk with Chinese authorities, party authorities said yesterday.
"While no existing laws require political parties to acquire government authorization or permission before visiting China, we don't see at this moment the necessity of reporting to authorities or seeking government authorization," KMT Secretary-General Lin Feng-cheng (林豐正) quoted Lien as saying while reciting a statement Lien made about his future trip to China.
Lin, however, remained evasive about whether Lien will meet with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) before his departure.
"Chairman Lien has never ruled out the possibility to meet with President Chen even after an unpleasant experience in 2000," Lin said, referring to the Executive Yuan's abrupt announcement of halting the construction project of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant immediately after Lien's meeting with Chen.
Lin said that he was very curious to know whether, if Chen were in his shoes, he would accept an invitation to meet with someone who utters vitriolic remarks about him.
Lin was referring to the statement Chen made upon his return from his historic visit to the Vatican to attend Pope John Paul II's funeral.
If the political climate improves, Lin said, he "does not rule out the possibility of contacting" the president's staff to discuss Lien's meeting with the president.
"Sincerity is very important when it comes to meeting with political leaders," Lin said.
"If the president is serious about solving cross-strait problems, he should refrain from making venomous remarks about other people through the media," Lin said.
Lin also dismissed media reports criticizing him for turning his back on the president's invitation to meet when the Presidential Office telephoned him.
"It is a false accusation that we ignored the president's invitation," Lin said.
Lin said that a secretary at Presidential Office Secretary-General Yu Shyi-kun's office had tried to get in touch with him a day before the president's meeting with People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜).
Lin then asked his staff to return the call and inquire about the purpose of the secretary's call but to no avail.
When asked whether Lien will leave for China after the National Assembly election slated for May 14, Lin said that they do not rule out such a possibility.
Lin said that he does not rule out the possibility of visiting China to arrange Lien's trip, if necessary.
Lin also said that Lien's visit will be conducted in "an open and transparent fashion."
‘WORSE THAN COMMUNISTS’: President William Lai has cracked down on his political enemies and has attempted to exterminate all opposition forces, the chairman said The legislature would motion for a presidential recall after May 20, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said yesterday at a protest themed “against green communists and dictatorship” in Taipei. Taiwan is supposed to be a peaceful homeland where people are united, but President William Lai (賴清德) has been polarizing and tearing apart society since his inauguration, Chu said. Lai must show his commitment to his job, otherwise a referendum could be initiated to recall him, he said. Democracy means the rule of the people, not the rule of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), but Lai has failed to fulfill his
Taiwan would benefit from more integrated military strategies and deployments if the US and its allies treat the East China Sea, the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea as a “single theater of operations,” a Taiwanese military expert said yesterday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a researcher at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said he made the assessment after two Japanese military experts warned of emerging threats from China based on a drill conducted this month by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theater Command. Japan Institute for National Fundamentals researcher Maki Nakagawa said the drill differed from the
OFF-TARGET: More than 30,000 participants were expected to take part in the Games next month, but only 6,550 foreign and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have registered Taipei city councilors yesterday blasted the organizers of next month’s World Masters Games over sudden timetable and venue changes, which they said have caused thousands of participants to back out of the international sporting event, among other organizational issues. They also cited visa delays and political interference by China as reasons many foreign athletes are requesting refunds for the event, to be held from May 17 to 30. Jointly organized by the Taipei and New Taipei City governments, the games have been rocked by numerous controversies since preparations began in 2020. Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng (林延鳳) said yesterday that new measures by
A rally held by opposition parties yesterday demonstrates that Taiwan is a democratic country, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, adding that if opposition parties really want to fight dictatorship, they should fight it on Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) held a protest with the theme “against green communists and dictatorship,” and was joined by the Taiwan People’s Party. Lai said the opposition parties are against what they called the “green communists,” but do not fight against the “Chinese communists,” adding that if they really want to fight dictatorship, they should go to the right place and face
RSS