Cross-strait issues would be among the top items on the agenda in the annual summit of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) to be held in Taipei tomorrow, which would also include a “Taiwan session,” during which President William Lai (賴清德) and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Chung-kwang (田中光) are to deliver speeches.
This would be the first IPAC summit held in Taiwan, and is also the first IPAC summit to be held in a non-member nation, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Fan Yun (范雲) said, adding that this demonstrates that the world supports Taiwan.
Cross-strait stability is one of the highlights on the summit’s agenda this year, with related issues to be discussed by governmental officials and the world’s best experts, sources said yesterday.
Photo: Screen grab from the IPAC’s Web site
Another highlight is cybersecurity, as in March more than 400 e-mail accounts associated with IPAC were attacked by the Chinese hacking group APT31, the IPAC said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement yesterday said that a total of 49 lawmakers and politicians from 23 countries and the European Parliament would take part in the event, including Australian Senator Deborah O’Neill, Czech lawmaker Eva Decroix and French Senator Olivier Cadic.
The IPAC has become even more significant with the rise of party disagreements and political violence, as it is “creating space for consensus across party lines” and facilitates “compromise across the spectrum,” European Parliament Vice-President Pina Picierno was quoted as saying in an IPAC news release published on Tuesday last week.
“Some issues transcend party and geography” and “Taiwan is undoubtedly one of those issues,” she was quoted as saying.
“There has never been a more important time to stand with Taiwan,” British Member of Parliament Tom Tugendhat was quoted as saying in the IPAC news release.
The solidarity demonstrated by the summit shows that “cross-strait stability is high in the minds of lawmakers around the world, from all sides of the political spectrum,” he said.
Meanwhile, sources said the IPAC has expressed hope that Taiwan’s opposition legislators would take part in the event after it learned they might not.
While Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Wu Chun-cheng (吳春城) has said he would attend the summit, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers had yet to give a positive response as of Saturday, they said.
The IPAC has not granted Taiwan membership, as it requires joint participation by the ruling and opposition parties, DPP Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) said on Saturday.
The KMT’s opting out of the event for years is because of its fear of displeasing China, he said.
The opposition lawmakers should stand by their country and honor their commitments to parliamentary diplomacy, DPP caucus secretary-general Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) said.
The opposition should not take the opposite side of democracy, she added.
KMT caucus deputy secretary-general Lin Szu-ming (林思銘) on Saturday said he did not receive any invitation from the IPAC.
KMT Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯) also said her office had not received an IPAC invitation to the summit.
Additional reporting by Liu Wan-lin,
Chen Cheng-yu and Li Wen-hsin
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday expressed “shock and regret” over a statement issued by his wife without his consent, and rejected her assertion that his eldest sister, Ma Yi-nan (馬以南), would manage his medical care or act as his spokesperson amid an ongoing embezzlement probe into his foundation. Ma Ying-jeou in a statement said he was shocked by a statement by his wife, Chou Mei-ching (周美青), regarding his affairs. Ma Yi-nan “must not” be in charge of his healthcare and other personal affairs, nor can she be allowed to represent the Ma family, the former president said. He said he was also
RSS