Taiwan should help its arch-rival China to pursue "one country, one system" rather than what it now has, which is "one country, two systems," Premier Frank Hsieh (
"Promoting unification with China is an impossible and impractical political fantasy," Hsieh said. "A more sensible approach would be to help China become a more democratic society."
It is unfair, Hsieh said, to apply two different systems to Chinese people because it seems as though some must be reconciled to a life that is less free, while some live a comparatively freer life.
"Chinese people, after all, are people like you and I," he said. "I don't think two different political systems will bring stability."
According to Hsieh, "One country, one system" means everybody is free: Free to have their own opinions, free to hold religious belief, free to elect their political representatives and free to make a decent living in whatever way they choose.
If China becomes freer and democratic and less hostile toward Taiwan, Hsieh said, cross-strait problems can be resolved.
"It sounds more realistic to join efforts with China to combat crimes such as human trafficking, because that, I think, is what the people sincerely want governments to do," he said.
He also called on politicians and the public to stop raising resentment among Mainlanders and stop inflaming patriotism among the people of Taiwan.
Regarding China's proposed "anti-secession law," Hsieh said that he is certain that the US government realizes how the people of Taiwan feel about the planned legislation and it has on various occasions publicly questioned the necessity of enacting such a law.
"China may or may not proceed with this," he said.
"They may eventually enact it but in a significantly modified form. If that's the case, it's worth observing whether it does so simply to save face," he said.
Defining his Cabinet team as promoting "negotiation" and "stability," Hsieh reiterated the importance of "negotiation" with opposition parties, especially when pushing contentious bills.
"My stance on controversial bills is clear: negotiate, negotiate, negotiate," he said. "We have no need to send contentious bills to the legislature merely because we want to appease our supporters."
Hsieh said that the government may be able to garner more support for such bills during future conciliation and negotiating.
"The key lies in patience, perseverance and commitment in the long term," he said.
Also see stories:
SECURITY: The purpose for giving Hong Kong and Macau residents more lenient paths to permanent residency no longer applies due to China’s policies, a source said The government is considering removing an optional path to citizenship for residents from Hong Kong and Macau, and lengthening the terms for permanent residence eligibility, a source said yesterday. In a bid to prevent the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from infiltrating Taiwan through immigration from Hong Kong and Macau, the government could amend immigration laws for residents of the territories who currently receive preferential treatment, an official familiar with the matter speaking on condition of anonymity said. The move was part of “national security-related legislative reform,” they added. Under the amendments, arrivals from the Chinese territories would have to reside in Taiwan for
CRITICAL MOVE: TSMC’s plan to invest another US$100 billion in US chipmaking would boost Taiwan’s competitive edge in the global market, the premier said The government would ensure that the most advanced chipmaking technology stays in Taiwan while assisting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) in investing overseas, the Presidential Office said yesterday. The statement follows a joint announcement by the world’s largest contract chipmaker and US President Donald Trump on Monday that TSMC would invest an additional US$100 billion over the next four years to expand its semiconductor manufacturing operations in the US, which would include construction of three new chip fabrication plants, two advanced packaging facilities, and a research and development center. The government knew about the deal in advance and would assist, Presidential
‘DANGEROUS GAME’: Legislative Yuan budget cuts have already become a point of discussion for Democrats and Republicans in Washington, Elbridge Colby said Taiwan’s fall to China “would be a disaster for American interests” and Taipei must raise defense spending to deter Beijing, US President Donald Trump’s pick to lead Pentagon policy, Elbridge Colby, said on Tuesday during his US Senate confirmation hearing. The nominee for US undersecretary of defense for policy told the Armed Services Committee that Washington needs to motivate Taiwan to avoid a conflict with China and that he is “profoundly disturbed” about its perceived reluctance to raise defense spending closer to 10 percent of GDP. Colby, a China hawk who also served in the Pentagon in Trump’s first team,
The arrival of a cold front tomorrow could plunge temperatures into the mid-teens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Temperatures yesterday rose to 28°C to 30°C in northern and eastern Taiwan, and 32°C to 33°C in central and southern Taiwan, CWA data showed. Similar but mostly cloudy weather is expected today, the CWA said. However, the arrival of a cold air mass tomorrow would cause a rapid drop in temperatures to 15°C cooler than the previous day’s highs. The cold front, which is expected to last through the weekend, would bring steady rainfall tomorrow, along with multiple waves of showers
RSS