The Presidential Office yesterday dismissed a local media report that first lady Chow Mei-ching (周美青) would visit China in her capacity as honorary president of the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China.
Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) told reporters that the Red Cross had not made such an arrangement nor planned to do so in the future.
Wang made the remark in response to media inquiries about a story in the latest issue of Next Magazine published yesterday.
The report quoted an anonymous source in an intelligence agency as saying that Chow was likely to visit Sichuan Province in August to donate NT$1.52 billion (US$47.5 million) on behalf of the Red Cross to fund reconstruction projects in the area devastated by an earthquake last May.
The report claimed Ma’s advisers were divided over the issue, with some hoping to see Beijing first extend some goodwill gesture by allowing Taiwan to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA) meeting in May before they pushed a trip to China for Chow.
The Red Cross also issued a statement yesterday rejecting the report, saying that it had never received any instructions to make such arrangements or to engage in any negotiation on the issue, nor had it made any plans for Chow to visit China.
While the report suggested that Steven Chen (陳士魁), secretary-general of the Red Cross Cross Society of the Republic of China, was the person behind the plan, he denied the speculation yesterday, saying it was beyond the association’s power to handle cross-strait and foreign affairs, which were sensitive and political in nature.
Despite the Presidential Office’s comments, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus deputy secretary-general Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊櫻) said it would be a “positive move” for the first lady to visit China on behalf of an international organization.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FLORA WANG
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
The Taipei Summer Festival is to begin tomorrow at Dadaocheng Wharf (大稻埕), featuring four themed firework shows and five live music performances throughout the month, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said today. The festival in the city’s Datong District (大同) is to run until Aug. 30, holding firework displays on Wednesdays and the final Saturday of the event. The first show is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by Aug. 13, 20 and 30. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Disney Pixar's movie Toy Story, the festival has partnered with Walt Disney Co (Taiwan) to host a special themed area on
BE CAREFUL: The virus rarely causes severe illness or death, but newborns, older people and those with medical conditions are at risk of more severe illness As more than 7,000 cases of chikungunya fever have been reported in China’s Guangdong Province this year, including 2,892 new cases last week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday said it is monitoring the situation and considering raising the travel notice level, which might be announced today. The CDC issued a level 1 travel notice, or “watch,” for Guangdong Province on July 22, citing an outbreak in Foshan, a manufacturing hub in the south of the province, that was reported early last month. Between July 27 and Saturday, the province reported 2,892 new cases of chikungunya, reaching a total of 7,716
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
RSS