Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) expressed confidence in US support for Taiwan under US President Donald Trump’s administration in an interview with Al Jazeera published yesterday.
“Taiwan and the US have a very strong and solid relationship, and Taiwan has cross-party support from the US Congress,” Chiu said in the interview.
Chiu said he believes Washington would never accept an “unreasonable request” from Beijing to alter the terms of its relationship with Taiwan, despite widespread concern that Trump could use Taiwan as a bargaining chip in its dealings with China.
Photo: Liao Chen-hui, Taipei Times
The report said many Taiwanese are worried that Trump could abandon Taiwan to win concessions in trade talks with China.
Chiu said Taiwan has much to offer the US, from its strategic position within Washington’s first island chain defense strategy aimed at checking Chinese expansion in the Pacific, to its position as the world’s foremost chipmaker.
“We think that we can demonstrate to the US people and to the US people that Taiwan is a very good partner, and we are irreplaceable,” Chiu said.
Chiu said Taiwan would continue to observe the Trump administration, “Taiwan’s government has a very consistent position of protecting our sovereignty, our freedom and democracy.”
In the interview, Chiu also said he was most concerned about the leadership style of Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平).
Chiu said that Taiwan’s government continues to try to communicate with Beijing through official channels, as well as liaising through intermediaries from the business world, nonprofit sector and academia.
Chiu, however, criticized China’s communications with the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), which he characterized as part of Beijing’s divide and rule and “United Front” tactics employed against Taiwan.
“We are constantly facing United Front tactics, infiltration and division in Taiwanese society. They are everywhere,” Chiu said.
“The Xi regime is a new type of authoritarianism. He has been inciting a fanatic nationalism, and that’s why we are seeing military hegemony and wolf warrior diplomacy,” Chiu said.
“Mainland China right now is not a very rational decision-making party, and this nationalism poses a great threat to its neighboring countries,” he added.
“If you ask me what concerns me the most, I would say that it’s the essence of the Xi regime,” he said.
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
EVA Airways today confirmed the death of a flight attendant on Saturday upon their return to Taiwan and said an internal investigation has been launched, as criticism mounted over a social media post accusing the airline of failing to offer sufficient employee protections. According to the post, the flight attendant complained of feeling sick on board a flight, but was unable to take sick leave or access medical care. The crew member allegedly did not receive assistance from the chief purser, who failed to heed their requests for medical attention or call an ambulance once the flight landed, the post said. As sick
The Taichung District Court yesterday confirmed its final ruling that the marriage between teenage heir Lai (賴) and a man surnamed Hsia (夏) was legally invalid, preventing Hsia from inheriting Lai’s NT$500 million (US$16.37 million) estate. The court confirmed that Hsia chose not to appeal the civil judgement after the court handed down its ruling in June, making the decision final. In the June ruling, the court said that Lai, 18, and Hsia, 26, showed “no mutual admiration before the marriage” and that their interactions were “distant and unfamiliar.” The judge concluded that the couple lacked the “true intention of
A drunk woman was sexually assaulted inside a crowded concourse of Taipei Railway Station on Thursday last week before a foreign tourist notified police, leading to calls for better education on bystander intervention and review of security infrastructure. The man, surnamed Chiu (邱), was taken into custody on charges of sexual assault, taking advantage of the woman’s condition and public indecency. Police discovered that Chiu was a fugitive with prior convictions for vehicle theft. He has been taken into custody and is to complete his unserved six-month sentence, police said. On Thursday last week, Chiu was seen wearing a white
RSS