Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (
Officials stationed abroad represent the government, the public, government policy and the nation's dignity, which is something that can not be discounted, Chang said when asked about Hu.
`BIAS'
"Diplomats should not have a personal bias. This is a basic condition," Chang said.
In an interview with Singapore's Chinese-language Lianhe Zaobao published on Saturday, Hu said that he had decided to tender his resignation because he didn't see eye to eye with the Democratic Progressive Party's campaign of "de-sinification" and the removal of memorials dedicated to dictator Chiang Kai-shek (
But speaking to the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times' sister newspaper) later on Saturday, Hu denied saying that he would resign from his post.
TEMPORARY POST
Hu said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had notified him in April that he would be replaced and that he felt he was serving as a temporary representative.
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate, Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), in a separate setting, voiced his support for Hu yesterday, saying he was expressing the feelings of many Taiwanese representatives stationed overseas.
`SIMILAR VIEWS'
"Over the past few years, similar views had been heard [from them] when we visited other countries," Ma said when asked by press for comments.
Ma said that the government's policies are constantly changing, adding that this was the reason why some of the nation's allies had lost faith in Taiwan.
CONFUSION
Ma said that the changes left the nation's diplomats having a hard time explaining government policy to other countries.
"They have great difficulty carrying out their job because what they promise our friends the previous day may be totally overthrown [by our government] the next day," Ma said.
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
The Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP) has funded short-term internships in Taiwan for more than 4,500 young people from more than 40 countries since 2015, with the goal of attracting and retaining international talent, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. Fifty-five colleges launched 514 projects this year, including in fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, medicine and biotechnology, green energy, and sustainability, it said. The program provides research and practical internships in Taiwan for two to six months, and offers cultural exchange and networking opportunities, the ministry said. For example, National Formosa University’s Embedded System and Autopilot Laboratory developed two solar-powered drones in
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
Taipei resident Mu Chu-hua caught some glimpses of China’s mighty military parade on YouTube on Wednesday. As she watched hypersonic missiles roll down Beijing’s Changan Avenue and troops march in lockstep, she did not feel like they posed a threat to Taiwan. Mu, a 69-year-old retiree, said she saw the parade as simply a way for Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to “say thank you to the troops.” “I thought it was quite normal,” she said. “It was very cool.” China’s military parade commemorating the end of World War II was being watched internationally for insights into Beijing’s military advances and its show
RSS