Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) yesterday said he hoped China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) could work with the foundation to create a "communications platform," without specifying what, specifically, he meant.
Chang made the remarks when discussing the prospects for cross-strait relations next year at a press conference.
"I urge China to initiate the establishment of a cross-strait `communication platform' based on humane considerations. Through this `platform,' the two associations could deal with emergencies and provide assistance to those in need," Chang said.
Since 1999, the SEF and ARATS have had no official dialogue, and messages sent by fax or post are the only contacts between the organizations.
Chang said he felt this situation damaged the interests of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and said he expected Chinese authorities could recognize this and help build a "platform" free of politics or ideology.
SEF Secretary-General You Ying-lung (游盈隆) also said that next year marks the 20th anniversary of the initiation of interaction and exchanges between Taiwan and China, and the foundation would hold a series of academic symposiums to examine the development of cross-strait relations over the last two decades.
When asked about a recent personnel reshuffle at ARATS, You said the foundation respected China's arrangement of personnel matters, and that he hoped it would bring a fresh approach.
You said a businessman who became wealthy in China by producing tinplate and cans is coming home to invest in Taiwan.
Lee Jung-fu (李榮福), former chief of a Taiwanese businessperson's association in Changchou (
"We hope Lee's example will encourage other Taiwanese businesspeople in China to come home to give food back to their homeland," he added.
AGING: While Japan has 22 submarines, Taiwan only operates four, two of which were commissioned by the US in 1945 and 1946, and transferred to Taiwan in 1973 Taiwan would need at least 12 submarines to reach modern fleet capabilities, CSBC Corp, Taiwan chairman Chen Cheng-hung (陳政宏) said in an interview broadcast on Friday, citing a US assessment. CSBC is testing the nation’s first indigenous defense submarine, the Hai Kun (海鯤, Narwhal), which is scheduled to be delivered to the navy next month or in July. The Hai Kun has completed torpedo-firing tests and is scheduled to undergo overnight sea trials, Chen said on an SET TV military affairs program. Taiwan would require at least 12 submarines to establish a modern submarine force after assessing the nation’s operational environment and defense
Yangmingshan National Park authorities yesterday urged visitors to respect public spaces and obey the law after a couple was caught on a camera livestream having sex at the park’s Qingtiangang (擎天崗) earlier in the day. The Shilin Police Precinct in Taipei said it has identified a suspect and his vehicle registration number, and would summon him for questioning. The case would be handled in accordance with public indecency charges, it added. The couple entered the park at about 11pm on Thursday and began fooling around by 1am yesterday, the police said, adding that the two were unaware of the park’s all-day live
The coast guard today said that it had disrupted "illegal" operations by a Chinese research ship in waters close to the nation and driven it away, part of what Taipei sees a provocative pattern of China's stepped up maritime activities. The coast guard said that it on Thursday last week detected the Chinese ship Tongji (同濟號), which was commissioned only last year, 29 nautical miles (54km) southeast of the southern tip of Taiwan, although just outside restricted waters. The ship was observed lowering ropes into the water, suspected to be the deployment of scientific instruments for "illegal" survey operations, and the coast
A former soldier and an active-duty army officer were yesterday indicted for allegedly selling classified military training materials to a Chinese intelligence operative for a total of NT$79,440. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office indicted Chen Tai-yin (陳泰尹) and Lee Chun-ta (李俊達) for contravening the National Security Act (國家安全法) and the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例). Chen left the military in September 2013 after serving alongside then-staff sergeant Lee, now an army lieutenant, at the 21st Artillery Command of the army’s Sixth Corps from 2011 to 2013, according to the indictment. Chen met a Chinese intelligence operative identified as “Wang” (王) through a friend in November
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