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.
LOW RISK: Most nations do not extradite people accused of political crimes, and the UN says extradition can only happen if the act is a crime in both countries, an official said China yesterday issued wanted notices for two Taiwanese influencers, accusing them of committing “separatist acts” by criticizing Beijing, amid broadening concerns over China’s state-directed transnational repression. The Quanzhou Public Security Bureau in a notice posted online said police are offering a reward of up to 25,000 yuan (US$3,523) for information that could contribute to the investigation or apprehension of pro-Taiwanese independence YouTuber Wen Tzu-yu (溫子渝),who is known as Pa Chiung (八炯) online, and rapper Chen Po-yuan (陳柏源). Wen and Chen are suspected of spreading content that supported secession from China, slandered Chinese policies that benefit Taiwanese and discrimination against Chinese spouses of
ALIGNED THINKING: Taiwan and Japan have a mutual interest in trade, culture and engineering, and can work together for stability, Cho Jung-tai said Taiwan and Japan are two like-minded countries willing to work together to form a “safety barrier” in the Indo-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday said at the opening ceremony of the 35th Taiwan-Japan Modern Engineering and Technology Symposium in Taipei. Taiwan and Japan are close geographically and closer emotionally, he added. Citing the overflowing of a barrier lake in the Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) in September, Cho said the submersible water level sensors given by Japan during the disaster helped Taiwan monitor the lake’s water levels more accurately. Japan also provided a lot of vaccines early in the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic,
PROMOTION: Travelers who want a free stopover must book their flights with designated travel agents, such as Lion Travel, Holiday Tours, Cola Tour and Life Tours Air Canada yesterday said it is offering Taiwanese travelers who are headed to North America free stopovers if they transit though airports in Japan and South Korea. The promotion was launched in response to a potential rise in demand for flights to North America in June and July next year, when the US, Canada and Mexico are scheduled to jointly host the FIFA World Cup, Air Canada said. Air Canada offers services to 13 of the 16 host cities of the tournament’s soccer games, including Toronto and Vancouver; Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston; Dallas; Houston;
The US approved the possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet spare and repair parts for US$330 million, the Pentagon said late yesterday, marking the first such potential transaction since US President Donald Trump took office in January. "The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient's fleet of F-16, C-130," and other aircraft, the Pentagon said in a statement. Trump previously said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has told him he would not invade Taiwan while the Republican leader is in office. The announcement of the possible arms
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