The government needs to talk about Taiwan's legal status with the US so that it can eventually become an independent, normal nation, former president Lee Teng-hui (
Lee made the remarks yesterday morning while giving a lecture at the Lee Teng-hui School.
"Everyone says that Taiwan needs to gain independence, but how?" Lee asked students.
Lee said that the key to the problem was that Taiwan's status is uncertain and that the "Republic of China" is not a real country.
"Although Taiwan is equipped with the prerequisites of nationhood -- including having a government, people, territory and diplomatic policies -- it lacks the most important element of a nation: sovereignty," Lee said.
"In fact, Taiwan's legal status has been uncertain since World War II, which has led the UN to reject Taiwan as a member and prevented Taiwan from participating in the international community and establishing relations with big countries," Lee said.
Lee said that during World War II, Taiwan was part of the Pacific theater and not the war in China. Although US General Douglas Mac-Arthur ordered former president Chiang Kai-shek (
Therefore, to move toward the goal of Taiwanese independence, Lee said that the nation needed to hold discussions with the US, in addition to its other efforts: promoting Taiwanese democracy, writing a new constitution and changing the country's official name.
"We could see exactly what the US wants from Taiwan, and then decide if we can accept the US' conditions," Lee said.
Lee said that, his key aim was to enhance the public's national identification. He also criticized Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
Lee also responded to media reports which speculated that he may suffer from severe diabetes.
"I'm in very good health," Lee said with a smile. "Those who have doubts about my health condition can play golf with me."
"Perhaps some people want me to die early so that they can do whatever they want," Lee added, sparking a round of laughter.
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