The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday expressed regret over the US' decision to drop a resolution condemning Beijing's human rights record this year at the UN Human Rights Commission.
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Kau (
Kau made the comments after New Party Legislator Lai Shih-pao (
UNDER PRESSURE
"The US said it would not introduce a resolution criticizing China's human rights record at the UN. It is [US Secretary of State Condoleezza] Rice's gift to Beijing. It is strange that MOFA has so far said nothing on the matter," Lai said.
Noting that the ministry has communicated with the US on the issue, Kau said Washington's decision was regrettable.
The Anti-Secession Law has caused great pressure on the people of Taiwan, Kau said, citing Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp (
Formerly a staunch advocate of Taiwan's independence, Hsu published a retirement letter last Saturday voicing his support for the Anti-Secession Law and Beijing's "one China" principle.
Senior government officials close to Hsu, however, said Beijing had forced the businessman to reverse his political stance.
The international community responded positively to last Saturday's peaceful march in Taipei protesting against the Chinese law, Kau said.
Various overseas Taiwanese groups also held rallies on the same day to condemn the law.
However, according to Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Legislator David Huang (黃適卓), Taiwan's representative to the EU, Chen Chien-jen (程建人), had dissuaded Taiwanese students in Europe from attending such rallies.
Huang said in the legislative session that Taiwan's representative offices in Holland, France and Munich had also asked Taiwanese students to stay away from such activities.
It is "not believable" that the country's overseas representative offices would prevent Taiwanese students from attending the rallies, Kau said, who nevertheless promised to look into the case.
To counter the impact of the Chinese law, Kau said the ministry planned to send delegations to the US, Japan and the EU next month to explain Taiwan's stance on the law.
DISCUSSIONS
The delegations will discuss with the US, Japan and European countries the EU's proposal to lift up its arms embargo on China and Taiwan's ninth bid to join the World Health Organization as the UN body holds its annual assembly in Geneva in May.
"Our delegates will strongly express Taiwan's opinions on how lifting the arms embargo will affect security in the Taiwan Strait," Kau said.
Kau said US officials suggested Taiwan would have more bargaining chips with China if it can reach unity within itself.
TYPHOON: The storm’s path indicates a high possibility of Krathon making landfall in Pingtung County, depending on when the storm turns north, the CWA said Typhoon Krathon is strengthening and is more likely to make landfall in Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said in a forecast released yesterday afternoon. As of 2pm yesterday, the CWA’s updated sea warning for Krathon showed that the storm was about 430km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point. It was moving in west-northwest at 9kph, with maximum sustained winds of 119kph and gusts of up to 155kph, CWA data showed. Krathon is expected to move further west before turning north tomorrow, CWA forecaster Wu Wan-hua (伍婉華) said. The CWA’s latest forecast and other countries’ projections of the storm’s path indicate a higher
SLOW-MOVING STORM: The typhoon has started moving north, but at a very slow pace, adding uncertainty to the extent of its impact on the nation Work and classes have been canceled across the nation today because of Typhoon Krathon, with residents in the south advised to brace for winds that could reach force 17 on the Beaufort scale as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecast that the storm would make landfall there. Force 17 wind with speeds of 56.1 to 61.2 meters per second, the highest number on the Beaufort scale, rarely occur and could cause serious damage. Krathon could be the second typhoon to land in southwestern Taiwan, following typhoon Elsie in 1996, CWA records showed. As of 8pm yesterday, the typhoon’s center was 180km
TYPHOON DAY: Taitung, Pingtung, Tainan, Chiayi, Hualien and Kaohsiung canceled work and classes today. The storm is to start moving north this afternoon The outer rim of Typhoon Krathon made landfall in Taitung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島) at about noon yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, adding that the eye of the storm was expected to hit land tomorrow. The CWA at 2:30pm yesterday issued a land alert for Krathon after issuing a sea alert on Sunday. It also expanded the scope of the sea alert to include waters north of Taiwan Strait, in addition to its south, from the Bashi Channel to the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島). As of 6pm yesterday, the typhoon’s center was 160km south of
SECURITY: The New Zealand and Australian navies also sailed military vessels through the Strait yesterday to assert the right of freedom of navigation The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force on Wednesday made its first-ever transit through the Taiwan Strait in response to the intrusion by a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft into Japan’s sovereign airspace last month, Yomiuri Shimbun reported yesterday. The Japanese news platform reported that the destroyer JS Sazanamisailed down through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, citing sources in the Japanese government with knowledge of the matter. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to comment on the reports at a regular briefing because they concern military operations. Military vessels from New Zealand and Australia also sailed through the Strait on the same day, Wellington’s defense ministry