The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) today asked participants in today's protest against Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan's (
The TSU and other pro-independence groups will demonstrate at CKS International Airport, where Lien will leave for China today.
TSU Secretary-General Chen Chien-ming (陳建銘) said the party said it had learned that gangsters and Chinese spies might infiltrate the protest to try to stir up violence. In order to avoid riots, the party urged protesters to remain peaceful and reasonable.
PHOTO: SONG CHIH-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
"If our information is true, it echoes rumors about China's fifth column," Chen said. "China's spies have come to Taiwan."
Chen called on people who are going to join the protest not to bring eggs or other items that could lead to serious conflict. The TSU asked participants to put green paper on their windshields so that police can spot them easily and direct them to the parking lot next to the airport's second terminal, which is the gathering place for the protesters.
Chen said about 50 tour buses full of protesters will join today's demonstration. With a counter-protest also planned by the New Party, he called on the government to help keep the situation under control.
Meanwhile, the TSU's spiritual leader, former president Lee Teng-hui (
"A party often claims that it is a party that always support reforms -- you know which party I'm talking about," Lee said. "However, judging from the current situation, that party has already tilted toward China."
Lee also blamed the government for its low-key attitude toward the trips by Lien and other opposition leaders to China, saying he was disappointed that the government has kept silent about unjust matters.
In contrast to the TSU and other pro-independence groups, DPP Secretary-General Lee Yi-yang (
"We do not support the protests. We don't encourage our members to throw eggs or cause conflict on this occasion. We hope that people stay peaceful and reasonable," Lee Yi-yang said.
As for Lien's trip to China, Lee Yi-yang called on Lien to represent the "reality" of Taiwan during his travels.
"About 90 percent of Taiwanese people voiced their opposition to Beijing's `Anti-Secession' Law, and since Lien has said that he values `reality,' he has to represent this reality to China," Lee Yi-yang said. "The reality in the Taiwan Strait is that Taiwan and China are not under the same jurisdiction and the Republic of China [ROC] is an independent nation."
"The so-called `peace agreement' or `cessation of war between the KMT and CCP' that Lien referred to this morning all involve the government's authority and a change to the country's future," Lee Yi-yang said. "Lien should clearly know that he is not empowered to make any verbal commitments or written agreements [with China]."
GEARING UP: An invasion would be difficult and would strain China’s forces, but it has conducted large-scale training supporting an invasion scenario, the report said China increased its military pressure on Taiwan last year and took other steps in preparation for a potential invasion, an annual report published by the US Department of Defense on Wednesday showed. “Throughout 2023, Beijing continued to erode longstanding norms in and around Taiwan by employing a range of pressure tactics against Taiwan,” the report said, which is titled “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China (PRC) 2024.” The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) “is preparing for a contingency to unify Taiwan with the PRC by force, if perceived as necessary by Beijing, while simultaneously deterring, delaying or denying
PEACEFUL RESOLUTION: A statement issued following a meeting between Australia and Britain reiterated support for Taiwan and opposition to change in the Taiwan Strait Canada should support the peaceful resolution of Taiwan’s destiny according to the will of Taiwanese, Canadian lawmakers said in a resolution marking the second anniversary of that nation’s Indo-Pacific strategy on Monday. The Canadian House of Commons committee on Canada-Chinese relations made the comment as part of 34 recommendations for the new edition of the strategy, adding that Ottawa should back Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations. Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, first published in October 2022, emphasized that the region’s security, trade, human rights, democracy and environmental protection would play a crucial role in shaping Canada’s future. The strategy called for Canada to deepen
QUICK LOOK: The amendments include stricter recall requirements and Constitutional Court procedures, as well as a big increase in local governments’ budgets Portions of controversial amendments to tighten requirements for recalling officials and Constitutional Court procedures were passed by opposition lawmakers yesterday following clashes between lawmakers in the morning, as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members tried to block Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators from entering the chamber. Parts of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法) and Constitutional Court Procedure Act (憲法訴訟法) passed the third reading yesterday. The legislature was still voting on various amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財政收支劃分法) as of press time last night, after the session was extended to midnight. Amendments to Article 4
‘ONE BRIDGE’: The US president-elect met with Akie Abe on Dec. 15 in Florida and the two discussed a potential Taiwan-China conflict’s implications for world peace US president-elect Donald Trump has described Taiwan as “a major issue for world peace” during a meeting with Akie Abe, the widow of late Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, Japanese newspaper the Yomiuri Shimbun quoted sources as saying in a report yesterday. Trump met with Akie Abe on Dec. 15 at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where the two discussed the Russo-Ukrainian war and the situation in the Taiwan Strait. During the meeting, Trump spoke on the implications for world peace of a potential Taiwan-China conflict, which “indicated his administration’s stance of placing importance on dealing with the situation in
RSS