Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson and presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday said that keeping cross-strait relations stable is a shared objective, adding that all concerned parties should sit and negotiate a solution acceptable to all involved.
“I can feel that everyone is concerned about how the DPP — and I — will handle China affairs. We are working hard to take care of the issue, hoping to maintain cross-strait stability and peace under very complicated circumstances, while defending Taiwan’s interests at the same time, and allow Taiwanese to have more options,” Tsai said. “We want to do it well, and it needs time, and we have been in good communication with different parties.”
Tsai made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions about comments made on Friday at a conference on cross-strait relations hosted by the Heritage Foundation in Washington by former American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) managing director Barbara Schrage.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
Schrage reportedly said that Tsai was unable to clarify Washington’s doubts about her China policy when she visited the US in September 2011 as the DPP’s candidate for the 2012 presidential election, and urged Tsai to present something new that would ease the concerns of China and the US.
Tsai — who is expected to be her party’s candidate in next year’s presidential election — is expected to have a chance to elucidate her stance in a visit to Washington set for later this year, Schrage said, adding that if Tsai cannot present something new, she would not be able to pass the test easily.
Schrage retired in January last year from the position she had held since 2006.
Asked if she considers Schrage’s remarks as US interference with Taiwan’s election, Tsai yesterday reaffirmed that she believes that the US will remain neutral, since it “has repeatedly stressed that it would not interfere in our election.”
Tsai said that stability and peace in cross-strait relations is beneficial to all parties and thus everyone should work together to find a solution that is acceptable to all and beneficial to the people of Taiwan.
“Rather than saying it is intervention or influencing, I suggest that we all sit down and talk,” Tsai said.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
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
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old