As the security of the Taiwan Strait will be subsumed into the US-Japan joint pact and presented as a "common strategic objective" by the two powers, members of Taiwan Society North (TSN, 北社) yesterday said that this is the optimal time for Taiwan to voice its strong opposition to Beijing's planned anti-secession law. They also asked the pan-blue camp to declare its stance on Beijing's proposed legislation.
"It is absolutely favorable to Taiwan that the US government announced the inclusion of the security of the Taiwan Strait in the US-Japanese Security Alliance pact before China formally enacts the anti-secession law," TSN chairman Wu Shuh-min (吳樹民) said yesterday at a seminar held by the society on "what could Taiwan do to counter China's planned anti-secession law" at the National Taiwan University (NTU) Conference Center.
"Although the pact mainly focused on the interests of the US and Japan, it also aimed at warning China not to have its way with Taiwan and not to make the so-called anti-secession law arbitrary," Wu said.
"Taiwan should take advantage of this time to accentuate the gravity of Beijing's anti-secession law domestically and internationally to stop China legislating this law," Wu said.
Hsu Yung-ming (徐永明), a political analyst and assistant researcher of the Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences at Academia Sinica, suggested that pro-independence groups like the TSN or the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) start with visiting Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who is now campaigning for the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairmanship.
He also asked Ma to show his support for making a "anti-annexation law" to counter Beijing's legislation.
"It is almost certain that Ma will run for the presidency representing the KMT in 2008, and he might be happy to react to this demand by the pro-independence groups, because it could add some `local color' to his campaign, in a sense." Hsu said.
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
CHIPS AND DEFENSE: Trump said the US had lost its chip business and Taipei should pay it for defense, and added that ‘we’re no different than an insurance company’ Taiwan-US relations are solid, and both sides are in agreement that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region are everyone’s concern, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday following comments by former US president Donald Trump that Taiwan “should pay” for US defense. Taiwan is thankful to the US for supporting Taiwan’s bid to participate in international organizations, Cho told a news conference in Taipei. “I know the people very well, respect them greatly. They did take about 100 percent of our chip business,” Trump told Bloomberg on June 25 in an interview that was published on Tuesday. “I think
SHOW OF SUPPORT: Taiwan has been one of the largest buyers of US defense equipment, supporting American businesses and jobs, US lawmakers said Taiwan has been paying for its own defense, a US Department of State official said on Wednesday, adding that purchases of military equipment are important to the US economy and for ensuring regional security. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller was asked at a news conference about comments by former US president Donald Trump, the Republican nominee in November’s US presidential election, who said during an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek that Taiwan should pay Washington for its defense needs. “The purchases that they [Taiwan] have made not only are important, we believe, to regional security, but are important to the United States economy,”
Hsu Wen-erh (許汶而) on Friday became the first Taiwanese to swim solo across the English Channel, saying she was very happy to bring Taiwan to the world. Hsu completed the challenge in 12 hours, 17 minutes and eight seconds, after swimming across the Strait of Gibraltar in October last year. She said she had planned to swim the English Channel in August next year, but seized the opportunity when a vacancy became available on the waiting list. She went to the UK in May to train for a test that involves swimming for six hours at 16°C, which people who want to swim