Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) yesterday welcomed US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan and dismissed rumors of fractured opinions within the party regarding the visit.
The KMT has always adopted a pro-US stance, Chu said.
The KMT’s official stance is that Pelosi’s visit is a welcome move, despite dissenting comments by individual party members, Chu said.
Photo: Wong Yu-huang, Taipei Times
Chu referred to remarks by Legislator Wu Sz-huai (吳斯懷), who said “provoking the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] is unnecessary,” and Legislator Yeh Yu-lan (葉毓蘭), who said that Pelosi’s visit harms Taiwanese businesses, as China reacted by imposing import bans.
The KMT is dedicated to the defense of Taiwanese, upholding regional peace and looking out for Taiwan’s interests, Chu said, adding that the party is willing to work with all international friends who are sincere about their intent to boost the Republic of China’s interests.
Chu chided Beijing for resorting to military exercises to express its discontent over the visit, saying that his position has always been that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait must engage in dialogue and try to understand instead of antagonizing each other.
The US Congress represents the will of Americans, and while Washington’s policies toward China have not changed, Taiwan should welcome the support of the US public, he added.
Separately, KMT legislative caucus whip William Tseng (曾銘宗) said the KMT would stand with other democratic countries to jointly uphold peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Tseng made the remarks at the KMT caucus’ news conference after a closed-door meeting with Pelosi, Deputy Legislative Speaker Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) and three legislative caucus conveners of other parties.
“We hope the visit will bring about stability and peace in the Taiwan Strait,” Tseng said.
Tseng said that the talks dealt with enhancing supply chains, including the roles of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co and other chipmakers.
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