Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday pledged to adopt "flexible diplomacy" to end the nation's diplomatic isolation, while improving cross-strait relations based on the "1992 consensus" and "mutual non-denial" if elected.
Unveiling his foreign policy paper, Ma vowed to begin pragmatic negotiations with Beijing through a "modus vivendi" and not oppose allies developing foreign relations with other states unless Taiwan's interests were damaged.
"We will put an end to the pointless `scorched earth diplomacy' exercised by the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] ... Future bilateral foreign relations or participation in international organizations need no longer lead to confrontation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait," Ma told a press conference yesterday in Taipei.
Describing the government's foreign policy as "amateurish, capricious, dogmatic and based on brinkmanship," Ma criticized President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) for turning Taiwan into an "international troublemaker" by pursuing de jure independence, and vowed to normalize Taiwan's trade relations with China and to focus efforts on entering three functional organizations, including the World Bank, the IMF and the WHO.
As the world's 18th-largest economic entity, Ma said, Taiwan should be able to exercise its economic influence, develop relations with IMF member countries -- including China -- and work toward entering the IMF.
Ma said he would also seek to sign separate free trade agreements with ASEAN members and eventually achieve the goal of linking up fully with the ASEAN 10+3 group.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
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