The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said on Monday its newly formed think tank had an “open-minded” attitude toward invitations for dialogue from Chinese institutes or organizations.
The think tank — affliated with the New Frontier Foundation — would not rule out sending representatives to China for such dialogue, said its chief executive, Wu Nai-jen (吳乃仁), at a meeting with diplomats and representatives of more than 20 countries stationed in Taiwan that was also attended by DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
The DPP said most of the diplomats were interested in whether the think tank would interact with China.
Wu said that in recent months, the DPP had hosted visits to Taiwan by a number of Chinese academics and think tank representatives, implying that the party has not rejected contacts with China.
Tsai told the meeting that the think tank was not an academic institution, but was established to help the party outline efficient and pragmatic policies. An even more important task was to “prepare for the DPP’s reclaiming of power in 2012,” she said.
The DPP hoped there would be many more people joining discussions — through the think tank — on its plan to draft a “10-year platform,” she said.
At the Feb. 23 launch of the think tank, Tsai said it was aimed at strengthening Taiwan’s diplomatic muscle by bolstering relations with Japan, the US and Europe, while fostering closer links with Beijing.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
Many Japanese couples are coming to Taiwan to obtain donated sperm or eggs for fertility treatment due to conservatism in their home country, Taiwan’s high standards and low costs, doctors said. One in every six couples in Japan is receiving infertility treatment, Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare data show. About 70,000 children are born in Japan every year through in vitro fertilization (IVF), or about one in every 11 children born. Few people accept donated reproductive cells in Japan due to a lack of clear regulations, leaving treatment in a “gray zone,” Taichung Nuwa Fertility Center medical director Wang Huai-ling (王懷麟)
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it
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