Few Taiwanese would fully accept the so-called “1992 consensus” as Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) defined it last week, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said yesterday.
Xi in a speech on Wednesday last week called for unification under the “one country, two systems” formula and defined the “1992 consensus” as being based on the “one China” principle.
Xi’s definition of the “1992 consensus” contrasted with that provided over the years by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), which has maintained that it allows room for Taiwan to interpret “China” as being the Republic of China (ROC).
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
Asked about the different definitions of the “1992 consensus,” Ko said: “Then it means that there is no consensus.”
“The mainland recently announced its version of what the ‘1992 consensus’ means, but after Taiwanese learned about it, I think very few people would be willing to fully accept it,” he said.
Asked whether he supports the “four musts” put forward by Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) as conditions for cross-strait ties, Ko said his support is not important.
The government should try to act on its proposals and let the public decide whether it supports them, Ko said.
Tsai in a speech said that China must face the reality of the existence of the ROC; must respect the commitment of 23 million Taiwanese to freedom and democracy; and must handle cross-strait differences peacefully, on a basis of equality; and governments or government-authorized agencies must carry out cross-strait negotiations.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Hualien County in eastern Taiwan at 7pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The epicenter of the temblor was at sea, about 69.9km south of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 30.9km, it said. There were no immediate reports of damage resulting from the quake. The earthquake’s intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was highest in Taitung County’s Changbin Township (長濱), where it measured 5 on Taiwan’s seven-tier intensity scale. The quake also measured an intensity of 4 in Hualien, Nantou, Chiayi, Yunlin, Changhua and Miaoli counties, as well as
Credit departments of farmers’ and fishers’ associations blocked a total of more than NT$180 million (US$6.01 million) from being lost to scams last year, National Police Agency (NPA) data showed. The Agricultural Finance Agency (AFA) said last week that staff of farmers’ and fishers’ associations’ credit departments are required to implement fraud prevention measures when they serve clients at the counter. They would ask clients about personal financial management activities whenever they suspect there might be a fraud situation, and would immediately report the incident to local authorities, which would send police officers to the site to help, it said. NPA data showed
ENERGY RESILIENCE: Although Alaska is open for investments, Taiwan is sourcing its gas from the Middle East, and the sea routes carry risks, Ho Cheng-hui said US government officials’ high-profile reception of a Taiwanese representative at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference indicated the emergence of an Indo-Pacific energy resilience alliance, an academic said. Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an (潘孟安) attended the conference in Alaska on Thursday last week at the invitation of the US government. Pan visited oil and gas facilities with senior US officials, including US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy and US Senator Daniel Sullivan. Pan attending the conference on behalf of President William Lai (賴清德) shows a significant elevation in diplomatic representation,
The Taipei MRT is to begin accepting mobile payment services in the fall, Taipei Rapid Transit Corp said on Saturday. When the company finishes the installation of new payment units at ticketing gates in October, MRT passengers can use credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, the operator said. In addition, the MRT would also provide QR payment codes — which would be compatible with Line Pay, Jkopay, iPass Money, PXPay Plus, EasyWallet, iCash Pay, Taiwan Pay and Taishin Pay — to access the railway system. Currently, passengers can access the Taipei MRT by buying a single-journey token or using EasyCard,
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