President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) moved quickly yesterday to take advantage of comments reportedly made by a senior US official casting doubt on the ability of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to maintain stable cross-strait relations.
A report in the Financial Times on Thursday cited an unnamed US official as saying that Tsai had created “distinct doubts about whether she is both willing and able to continue the stability in cross-strait relations the region has enjoyed in recent years.”
Reacting to the reported comment, KMT spokesperson Chen Yi-hsin (陳以信) said it reflected “the doubts most Taiwanese have over Tsai’s cross-strait policy, that she has only wishful thinking about the China.”
Chen said that Tsai’s rejection of the “1992 consensus” — which the KMT insists is an agreement reached during cross-strait talks in Hong Kong in 1992 whereby both sides agreed to retain their own interpretation of “one China” — shows the insincerity of her claims that she would be willing to work with China in an effective manner.
“She wants China to understand her policy, but does not make enough effort to understand the views of the other side,” Chen said.
The presidential and legislative elections are scheduled for Jan. 14.
In response to a question about the anonymous official’s comments, US State Department spokesman Mark Toner reiterated long-standing US assertions that it would steer clear of Taiwanese internal politics.
“We strongly support Taiwan’s democracy and the will of the Taiwanese people to choose their leaders in the upcoming election,” Toner said. “Our only interest is in free, fair and open presidential elections. We do not take any sides.”
Kenting National Park service technician Yang Jien-fon (楊政峰) won a silver award in World Grand Prix Photography Awards Spring Season for his photograph of two male rat snakes intertwined in combat. Yang’s colleagues at Kenting National Park said he is a master of nature photography who has been held back by his job in civil service. The awards accept entries in all four seasons across six categories: architectural and urban photography, black-and-white and fine art photography, commercial and fashion photography, documentary and people photography, nature and experimental photography, and mobile photography. Awards are ranked according to scores and divided into platinum, gold and
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday said it opposes the introduction of migrant workers from India until a mechanism is in place to prevent workers from absconding. Minister of Labor Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) on Thursday told the Legislative Yuan that the first group of migrant workers from India could be introduced as early as this year, as part of a government program. The caucus’ opposition to the policy is based on the assessment that “the risk is too high,” KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥) said. Taiwan has a serious and long-standing problem of migrant workers absconding from their contracts, indicating that
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
TRADE-OFF: Beijing seeks to trade a bowl of tempura for a Chinese delicacy, an official said, while another said its promises were attempts to interfere in the polls The government must carefully consider the national security implications of building a bridge connecting Kinmen County and Xiamen, China, the Public Construction Commission (PCC) said yesterday. PCC Commissioner Derek Chen (陳金德), who is also a minister without portfolio, made the remarks in a meeting of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, after Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Hsu Fu-kuei (徐富癸) asked about China’s proposal of new infrastructure projects to further connect Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties with Xiamen. China unveiled the bridge plan, along with nine other policies for Taiwan, on Sunday, the last day of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s (鄭麗文) visit
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