Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng's (
"We are not sure whether Wang's remarks represented the alliance of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party (PFP), as three days ago KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
In an interview with the Chinese-language China Times, Wang, who heads the pan-blue alliance's presidential campaign, said the blue camp has never opposed Chen Shui-bian's definition of relations between China and Taiwan as "one country on each side" of the Taiwan Strait, nor will it stand against Taiwan independence in the future.
Wang said the alliance has changed its cross-strait strategy for the campaign and will stop insisting on the so-called "1992 consensus" and the notion of "one China, with each side making its own interpretation" -- policies that once guided the KMT on relations with China.
Wang said the alliance will shift its strategy to maintain the status quo and pursue cross-strait stability.
Reacting to the pan-blue camp's tilt toward independence, Chen demanded Wang clarify his position.
"Wang didn't deny the `one country on each side' formula, nor did he stress the `one China' notion. He needs to be more specific on the [state of] cross-strait relations," Chen said.
DPP Legislator Lin Cho-shui (
"Wang should clarify how many options he is talking about. Is Taiwan independence the only option, or the last option on the list? If it's the last option he is talking about, his opting for Taiwan independence doesn't make any difference," Lin said.
DPP Deputy Secretary-General Lee Ying-yuan (
"We can't see a consistent rationale for the KMT's [views on] national identity over time and it might create confusion for their supporters," Lee said.
"The party [DPP] will observe whether Wang's remarks were representative of the KMT-PFP alliance," he said.
Also see story:
The Thai government on Friday announced that Taiwanese would be allowed to stay in the country for up to 60 days per entry, under the Southeast Asian country’s visa-free program starting from today. Taiwan is among 93 countries included in the Thai visa-waiver program, which has been expanded from 57 countries, with the visa-exempt entry extended from 30 to 60 days. After taking office last year, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has vowed to grant more visa waivers to foreign travelers as part of efforts to stimulate tourism. The expanded visa-waiver program was on Friday signed by Thai Minister of the Interior Anutin
BAIL APPEALS: The former vice premier was ordered to be held incommunicado despite twice being granted bail and paying a total of NT$12 million in bond The Taoyuan District Court yesterday ordered the detention of former vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), who is being investigated for alleged corruption while serving as Taoyuan mayor from December 2014 to December 2022, and that he be held incommunicado. The court made the ruling during a bail hearing after prosecutors appealed its bail ruling twice. Cheng on Saturday was released after posting bail of NT$5 million (US$153,818). However, after prosecutors lodged an appeal, the High Court on Monday revoked the original ruling and ordered the Taoyuan District Court to hold another bail hearing. On Tuesday, the district court granted bail to Cheng a second
PEACE AND SECURITY: China’s military ambitions present ‘the greatest strategic challenge to Japan and the world, Japan’s annual defense white paper said yesterday Japan yesterday warned that China risked escalating tensions with Taiwan with an increase in military exercises that appeared aimed in part at readying Beijing’s forces for a possible invasion. Japan’s annual assessment of security threats, including those posed by China, North Korea and Russia, comes as Taiwan closely monitors Chinese People’s Liberation Army air and sea exercises, including one with the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean. The drills are the latest in a series including maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait last year that a senior US general said would be key to any invasion. “Because of that increase in military activity,
HAN KUANG: The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers said The armed forces would for the first time test new rules of engagement (ROE) at this month’s annual Han Kuang exercises, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said yesterday. The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games, and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers told a news conference in Taipei. ROE cards would be issued to select combat troops to test their ability to function without tight control, they said. The most recent edition of the rules was published last year, they said. One of the cards’ two templates identifies enemy targets that soldiers