The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) yesterday condemned China’s latest military drills around Taiwan, while the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) expressed regrets over Beijing’s actions.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) early yesterday announced that it had launched the drills, called “Joint Sword-2024B,” in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, south and east of Taiwan, as a “stern warning to the separatist acts of Taiwanese independence forces.”
The announcement came four days after President William Lai (賴清德) delivered his first Double Ten National Day address, in which he said the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has “no right to represent Taiwan” and reiterated that the two sides of the Strait are “not subordinate” to each other.
Photo: Reuters
The DPP said the exercises would not stop Taiwan’s pursuit of democracy, civil liberties and peace, nor would they alter the “status quo” in the Strait.
Lai extended a message of goodwill to the PRC during his speech, which the international community acknowledged as inspiring confidence and projecting stability, it said.
It is unfortunate that China has distorted the meaning of Lai’s speech, it said, adding that the military drills contravene international law, go against the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and endanger the safety of Taiwan’s 23.5 million people.
The DPP urged China to recognize the Republic of China’s status as equals and to abandon their strategy of military escalation, as it only further unifies the commitment of Taiwanese to protect their sovereignty and democracy, and is counterproductive to regional peace.
The KMT said the drills severely threaten regional security and undermine cross-strait ties.
Instead of confrontation, both sides should engage in “exchanges and dialogue,” it said, adding that the drills have significantly disrupted regional transportation routes and supply chains.
The KMT said it supports increasing defense spending, especially to further develop the country’s asymmetric warfare capabilities, as well as to enhance Taiwan’s ability to deter China’s aggression.
It also urged the government to abide by the Constitution regarding Taiwan’s political status and to improve cross-strait relations to minimize risks within the Strait.
TPP Legislator Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) asked on what legal grounds could China justify the provocative military exercises.
Regardless of the content of Lai’s speech, it is subject to judgement and criticism by Taiwanese, and it was not the business of “communist China,” he added.
China’s behavior would not win it any support within Taiwan, and would only further alienate Taiwanese, he said.
The TPP resolutely opposes China’s military aggression, he said, adding that China should cease its detrimental actions and seek to engage with Taiwan through goodwill gestures.
Additional reporting by CNA
A small number of Taiwanese this year lost their citizenship rights after traveling in China and obtaining a one-time Chinese passport to cross the border into Russia, a source said today. The people signed up through Chinese travel agencies for tours of neighboring Russia with companies claiming they could obtain Russian visas and fast-track border clearance, the source said on condition of anonymity. The travelers were actually issued one-time-use Chinese passports, they said. Taiwanese are prohibited from holding a Chinese passport or household registration. If found to have a Chinese ID, they may lose their resident status under Article 9-1
PROCEDURE: Although there is already a cross-strait agreement in place for the extradition of criminals, ample notice is meant to be given to the other side first Ten Taiwanese who were involved in fraud-related crimes in China were extradited back to Taiwan via Kinmen County on Wednesday, four of whom are convicted fraudsters in Taiwan. The 10 people arrived via a ferry operating between Xiamen and Kinmen, also known as the “small three links.” The Kinmen County Prosecutors’ Office yesterday said that four of the 10 extradited people were convicted in Taiwan for committing fraud and contravening the Money Laundering Control Act (洗錢防制法), and were on the wanted list. They were immediately arrested upon arrival and sent to Kinmen Prison to serve their sentences following brief questioning, the office said.
‘REGRETTABLE’: Travelers reported that Seoul’s online arrival card system lists Taiwan as ‘China (Taiwan),’ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday urged South Korea to correct the way Taiwan is listed in its newly launched e-Arrival card system, saying the current designation downgrades the nation’s status. South Korea rolled out the online system on Feb. 24 to gradually replace paper arrival cards, which it plans to phase out by next year. Travelers must complete the electronic form up to 72 hours before entering the country. The ministry said it has received multiple complaints from Taiwanese travelers saying that the system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in dropdown menus for both “place of departure” and “next
VIGILANT: Enterovirus activity remains in the epidemic phase, with the CDC urging caregivers of infected children to be on the lookout for signs of severe illness Influenza activity is rising in neighboring countries, and, with temperatures forecast to drop this week, flu cases are expected to increase in the next two weeks, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. Hospitals reported 87,162 visits for flu-like illnesses between Nov. 23 and Saturday, which remained about the same level as the previous week, but nine deaths and 24 cases with serious flu complications were also confirmed last week, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said. Flu activity reached a peak in late September before declining for eight consecutive weeks, CDC Deputy Director-General and spokesman Lin Min-cheng (林明誠)
RSS