The DPP legislative caucus yesterday showed outrage at China's blockage of the nation's bid to join the World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer.
"Everyone in this country should tongue lash Beijing because it has silenced Taiwan's voice," DPP Legislator Chiu Chui-chen (
"The Chinese authorities have pulled out all the stops to exclude Taiwan from the UN health body while, in other issues, pretending to be the country's best friend," Chiu said.
PHOTO: CHIEN JUNG-FUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
DPP Legislator Lai Ching-te (
"The country suffered a similar setback when Beijing announced its new diplomatic ties with Nauru on the day that President Chen Shui-bian (
"This shut out should force the government to try and walk its own path," he said.
DPP Legislator Tang Bi-a (唐碧娥) said, "This is not an issue about politics but about human rights. China's objection to Taiwan's desire to join the international effort against SARS is scandalous."
Tang added that that the public should show its disgust over China's dirty tricks by boycotting Chinese products.
Earlier yesterday, the TSU legislative caucus also hit out at China's actions at the WHO.
The TSU said that Beijing's action was "dictatorial and shameless."
"The public should understand the nature of the Chinese government and stop harboring fantasies about China," the TSU legislative caucus whip, Chien Lin Whei-jun (
The TSU called for a condemnation by both ruling and opposition lawmakers over China's blocking tactics.
WANG RELEASED: A police investigation showed that an organized crime group allegedly taught their clients how to pretend to be sick during medical exams Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) and 11 others were released on bail yesterday, after being questioned for allegedly dodging compulsory military service or forging documents to help others avoid serving. Wang, 33, was catapulted into stardom for his role in the coming-of-age film Our Times (我的少女時代). Lately, he has been focusing on developing his entertainment career in China. The New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office last month began investigating an organized crime group that is allegedly helping men dodge compulsory military service using falsified documents. Police in New Taipei City Yonghe Precinct at the end of last month arrested the main suspect,
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Former Taiwan People’s Party chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) may apply to visit home following the death of his father this morning, the Taipei Detention Center said. Ko’s father, Ko Cheng-fa (柯承發), passed away at 8:40am today at the Hsinchu branch of National Taiwan University Hospital. He was 94 years old. The center said Ko Wen-je was welcome to apply, but declined to say whether it had already received an application. The center also provides psychological counseling to people in detention as needed, it added, also declining to comment on Ko Wen-je’s mental state. Ko Wen-je is being held in detention as he awaits trial