The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) is to impose stricter auditing during the approvals process for Taitung County Commissioner Yao Ching-ling’s (饒慶鈴) proposed China visits, after she failed to disclose her meeting with Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office Director Song Tao (宋濤) last month, a council official said yesterday.
In her submitted itinerary to the MAC for her Jan. 4 to 9 trip, Yao, a member of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), only listed travel to Beijing on the first day, promoting agricultural goods at a fair on Jan. 5, visiting companies and commercial markets on Jan. 6, before heading to Shanghai for business meetings for the following two days, before returning to Taiwan on Jan. 9.
Yao’s itinerary did not list any meeting with Song, which took place on Jan. 4 at Beijing’s Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
Photo: CNA
During their meeting, media quoted Song as saying: “We are from the same family on both sides, and must insist on upholding the 1992 consensus and oppose Taiwan independence.”
Yao was quoted as thanking the Chinese government for restoring imports of custard apples from Taitung, adding that “peaceful development could be based on the 1992 consensus and opposition to Taiwan independence.”
The “1992 consensus” refers to a tacit understanding between the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge that there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
The MAC said the Act Governing Relations Between the Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例) stipulates county commissioners and city mayors, as well as civil officials of certain ranks, must file an application when planning to visit China, and list meetings with any government representatives holding a position in the CCP.
The MAC would impose stricter auditing when Yao applies for trips to China, and might not grant approval next time, a MAC official said on the condition of anonymity.
Yao yesterday said the visit was to promote improved interactions, and to boost fruit sales for farmers in Taitung, adding that “the visit fully complied with my conscience, with our government and it was for the benefit of Taitung’s farmers.”
Additional reporting by Liu Jen-wei
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,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS