Montenegrin newspaper Vijesti has refused a Chinese demand to take down an interview with Representative to Hungary Liu Shih-chung (劉世忠) in which he said Taiwan is an “independent and sovereign country.”
The daily said it “cannot remove the report,” published on Sunday, after receiving a complaint from the Chinese embassy in Montenegro.
In the exclusive interview, Liu said that Taiwan, as an “independent and sovereign country,” does not need to declare independence, and that Taiwan and China do not have jurisdiction over one another.
Photo courtesy of the Taipei Representative Office in Hungary via CNA
The Russia-Ukraine war has put Taiwanese on guard against authoritarianism, and Taiwan’s resolution to uphold its democratic way of life should not be challenged, Liu said.
Many countries benefit from peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and many countries, including the US, Japan, Australia, South Korea and the Philippines, as well as the EU have urged China not to upset the military “status quo,” he told the newspaper.
Asked about Beijing’s moves to increase its influence in the Balkan Peninsula through its Belt and Road Initiative, Liu said that China’s attempts to create a presence in the region have caused debt crises and corruption in many countries in the region, and that the initiative has not achieved its intended effects.
In contrast, Taiwan is a benign force willing to offer assistance to countries in the region in a transparent and open manner, Liu said.
Liu cited as an example Taiwan’s efforts to help the Balkan countries through vocational training programs in collaboration with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
He also invited Montenegrin government and industry representatives to Taiwan’s 2024 Intelligence Community Forum.
Since the article was first printed, it has received nearly 60,000 clicks on the paper’s Web site in both the Montenegrin and English versions.
Considering that most countries issue more than five denominations of banknotes, the central bank has decided to redesign all five denominations, the bank said as it prepares for the first major overhaul of the banknotes in more than 24 years. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-lung (楊金龍) is expected to report to the Legislative Yuan today on the bank’s operations and the redesign’s progress. The bank in a report sent to the legislature ahead of today’s meeting said it had commissioned a survey on the public’s preferences. Survey results showed that NT$100 and NT$1,000 banknotes are the most commonly used, while NT$200 and NT$2,000
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday reported the first case of a new COVID-19 subvariant — BA.3.2 — in a 10-year-old Singaporean girl who had a fever upon arrival in Taiwan and tested positive for the disease. The girl left Taiwan on March 20 and the case did not have a direct impact on the local community, it said. The WHO added the BA.3.2 strain to its list of Variants Under Monitoring in December last year, but this was the first imported case of the COVID-19 variant in Taiwan, CDC Deputy Director-General Lin Ming-cheng (林明誠) said. The girl arrived in Taiwan on
ANNUAL EVENT: Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in Daan Park, with an event zone operating from 10am to 6pm This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park today and tomorrow, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a themed food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday. Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm, it said. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs, it added. People could also try the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area, the department said. Three PokeStops are
This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park this weekend, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a theme food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances. Pokemon Go Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as photo attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs. Pokemon trainers could also experience the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area. Three PokeStops are to be set up in the park. Trainers are invited to take
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