Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) yesterday vowed to review the “impact of fast-paced cross-strait exchanges” and the “doubts” over the uneven distribution of benefits generated by cross-strait economic interaction, while adding that China should also face up to the problems.
The New Taipei City mayor made the remarks after he was inaugurated as party chairman, saying the problems were “undisputed.”
The principles the party’s cross-strait policies have been based on since it regained power in 2008, “peaceful development,” “mutual benefit” and “a win-win relationship” have guided cross-strait relations in the right direction, Chu said.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
“However, it is undisputed that the fast pace of exchanges in which both sides have engaged in close and intensive interaction have brought psychological impacts to us, because there is a very big difference between Taiwanese society and that [in China],” Chu said.
Chu added that cross-strait economic exchanges have raised concerns over whether the benefits generated have been shared fairly and equitably by the public and “we have to solemnly face up to those doubts.”
The KMT would thoroughly review the two issues and would put them up for discussion, with both sides having the chance to exchange views, Chu said.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
Chu urged authorities “on the other side of the strait” to look squarely at the issues as well because it takes both sides working together to maintain a “steady” pace in cross-strait relations and make the relationship sustainable.
During the speech, Chu reiterated his willingness to sit down with the opposition parties and push for the reforms needed to implement a constitutional system under which officials assume responsibility commensurate with their authority and discuss bills concerning issues related to livelihood to foster fairness and justice.
Chu also pledged to make the executive and legislative branches of government work in tandem to facilitate the implementation of policy and to open the party to the younger generation by recruiting more talented young people.
However, Chu made no mention of the party’s assets, although he had said during his campaign that all the party’s ill-gotten assets should be returned to the nation.
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who resigned as chairman following the party’s rout in the Nov. 29 elections last year, was one of the guests attending the ceremony.
The KMT was equipped with seven vice chairpersons under Ma’s leadership, including Chu.
Chu said he would retain former Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) and former Chiayi mayor Huang Min-hui (黃敏惠) as vice chairpersons.
Vice President Wu Den-yih (吳敦義), former KMT secretary-general Tseng Yung-chuan (曾永權), Deputy Legislative Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) and former Greater Taichung mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) would not be reappointed, he said.
Executive Yuan Secretary-General Lee Shu-chuan (李四川) would be appointed secretary-general of the party, he said.
Lee, who worked for the Taipei City Government when Ma was mayor and Chu’s New Taipei City administration, is expected to play a major role in synchronizing the party, the executive and the legislative branches of government.
KMT Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) was appointed to replace KMT Legislator Alex Fai (費鴻泰) as chief of the policy committee.
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
TECH CONFERENCE: Input from industry and academic experts can contribute to future policymaking across government agencies, President William Lai said Multifunctional service robots could be the next new area in which Taiwan could play a significant role, given its strengths in chip manufacturing and software design, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) chairman and chief executive C.C. Wei (魏哲家) said yesterday. “In the past two months, our customers shared a lot of their future plans with me. Artificial intelligence [AI] and AI applications were the most talked about subjects in our conversation,” Wei said in a speech at the National Science and Technology Conference in Taipei. TSMC, the world’s biggest contract chipmaker, counts Nvidia Corp, Advanced Micro Devices Inc, Apple Inc and
LEAP FORWARD: The new tanks are ‘decades more advanced than’ the army’s current fleet and would enable it to compete with China’s tanks, a source said A shipment of 38 US-made M1A2T Abrams tanks — part of a military procurement package from the US — arrived at the Port of Taipei early yesterday. The vehicles are the first batch of 108 tanks and other items that then-US president Donald Trump announced for Taiwan in 2019. The Ministry of National Defense at the time allocated NT$40.5 billion (US$1.25 billion) for the purchase. To accommodate the arrival of the tanks, the port suspended the use of all terminals and storage area machinery from 6pm last night until 7am this morning. The tanks are expected to be deployed at the army’s training
RSS