Chinese President Hu Jintao's (
In his speech on Dec. 31, Hu said the Chinese people would continue to strive toward realizing unification with Taiwan by adhering to the basic principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems."
"`One country, two systems' in Hu's speech was of significance because it has been a long time since the Chinese government used the wording in its official documents," Wu said, adding that "the implication was to tighten cross-strait policy and cause problems for Taiwan's government."
Wu said that Taiwan was very aware of China's restriction of the nation's international space, its growing military threat and its refusal to heed Taiwan's overtures for negotiation.
"We can't expect too much progress in cross-strait relations if the Chinese government continues to ignore the Taiwanese government," he said.
Wu was speaking in the legislature's Home and Nations Committee in response to pan-blue camp legislators, who described Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) New Year's speech as another step in the worsening of cross-strait relations.
Wu yesterday urged Beijing to open an official dialogue with Taipei, an act he said was crucial to resolving cross-strait disputes.
"Only if we grasp the window of opportunity for cross-strait dialogue will we be able to resolve the existing deadlock pragmatically and create a different outlook for cross-strait relations," Wu said.
People First Party Legislator Wu Ching-chih (吳清池) said Chen's announcement that he wanted to hold a referendum for a new constitution in 2007 would not improve cross-strait relations.
Wu said that a new constitution aimed to enshrine a system of government suited to the needs of the country.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) yesterday said that the Chinese Communist Party was planning and implementing “major” reforms, ahead of a political conclave that is expected to put economic recovery high on the agenda. Chinese policymakers have struggled to reignite growth since late 2022, when restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic were lifted. The world’s second-largest economy is beset by a debt crisis in the property sector, persistently low consumption and high unemployment among young people. Policymakers “are planning and implementing major measures to further deepen reform in a comprehensive manner,” Xi said in a speech at the Great Hall
CIVIL DEFENSE: More reservists in alternative service would help establish a sound civil defense system for use in wartime and during natural disasters, Kuma Academy’s CEO said While a total of 120,000 reservists are expected to be called up for alternative reserve drills this year, compared with the 6,505 drilled last year, the number has been revised to 58,000 due to a postponed training date, Deputy Minster of the Interior Ma Shih-yuan (馬士元) said. In principle, the ministry still aims to call up 120,000 reservists for alternative reserve drills next year, he said, but the actual number would not be decided later until after this year’s evaluation. The increase follows a Legislative Yuan request that the Ministry of the Interior address low recruitment rates, which it made while reviewing
WARNING: China has stepped up harassment of foreign vessels after its new regulation took effect last month, an official said, citing an incident in the Diaoyutai Islands The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) yesterday linked China’s seizure of a Taiwanese fishing vessel illegally operating in its territorial waters to Beijing’s new regulation authorizing the China Coast Guard to seize boats in waters it claims. Chinese officials boarded and then seized a Taiwanese fishing vessel operating near China’s coast close to Kinmen County late on Tuesday and took it to a Chinese port, the CGA said. The Penghu-registered squid fishing vessel Da Jin Man No. 88 (大進滿88) was boarded and seized by China Coast Guard east-northeast of Liaoluo Bay (料羅灣), 17.5 nautical miles (32.4km) from Taiwan’s restricted waters off Kinmen,
DETERRENCE: Along with US$500 million in military aid and up to US$2 billion in loans and loan guarantees, the bill would allocate US$400 million to countering PRC influence The US House of Representatives on Friday approved an appropriations bill for fiscal year 2025 that includes US$500 million in military aid for Taiwan. The legislation, which authorizes funding for the US Department of State, US foreign operations and related programs for next year, passed 212-200 in the Republican-led House. The bill stipulates that the US would provide no less than US$500 million in foreign military financing for Taiwan to enhance deterrence across the Taiwan Strait, and offer Taipei up to US$2 billion in loans and loan guarantees for the same purpose. The funding would be made available under the US’ Foreign Military