The Executive Yuan yesterday dismissed China's claim that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) was a threat to Asian stability, saying that China is the biggest threat in the region and that there is no chance the government will adhere to a "one country, two systems" model.
"China has been ambitious in expanding its military might in the region and that has been the cause of much concern from [its] neighbors," Cabinet Spokesman Chen Chi-mai (
He said that China has raked up a double-digit increase to its military spending every year since 1995 and has deployed over 500 ballistic missiles targeting Taiwan, which seriously threatens security across the Taiwan Strait.
To prove his point, Chen Chi-mai said that China's military expenses were estimated to be between US$50 billion and US$70 billion annually, ranking it third-highest in defense spending after the US and Russia.
Chen Chi-mai made the remarks in response to the statement by Li Weiyi (
The Chinese government also yesterday made its first official response to last Saturday's legislative elections. At a TAO press conference, Li denounced Chen Shui-bian's moves toward Taiwan's independence as exacerbating tensions with China. Li also said the president was a dangerous politician who considers China an enemy and puts the safety and livelihood of Taiwan's people at risk.
"The independence activities by the Chen administration are the main source of chaos in the Asia-Pacific and have worsened cross-strait tensions," he said.
Li also claimed that Saturday's election results proved that most Taiwanese favored peace with China and that they were disillusioned with the separatist activities of Chen Shui-bian.
Dismissing Li's criticism, Chen Chi-mai yesterday called on Bei-jing to not misinterpret the result of Saturday's polls because it was not conducive to cross-strait relations.
"There are always winners and losers in an election, but no matter what the result is, it's how democracy operates," he said.
"The election not only re-affirms the nation's sovereignty but also proves once again that there is no market for the `one country, two systems' model," he said.
Chen Chi-mai also said that the pledges made by President Chen during his inauguration speech and National Day address remained unchanged.
They include the "four noes" and plans for reforming the Constitution.
He also urged the Chinese leadership to resume negotiations on the opening of direct transportation links and charter flights for the Lunar New Year, as they are purely economic issues and not political.
Responding to Li's invitation to Taiwanese individuals and politicians to visit China, Chen Chi-mai called on Beijing to stop instituting political barriers to hamper cross-strait negotiations. He said the 1992 meeting in Hong Kong could be the basis to return to the negotiating table for a new round of cross-strait talks.
Li said the Chinese government welcomes any Taiwanese individual or group, including the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party (PFP), to visit China and exchange views on such issues as how to better develop cross-strait relations and facilitate peaceful unification.
Quoting remarks made by KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) at the KMT's Central Standing Committee meeting yesterday, KMT spokesman Chang Jung-kung (張榮恭) said Lien presently has no plans to visit China.
Taiwan is stepping up plans to create self-sufficient supply chains for combat drones and increase foreign orders from the US to counter China’s numerical superiority, a defense official said on Saturday. Commenting on condition of anonymity, the official said the nation’s armed forces are in agreement with US Admiral Samuel Paparo’s assessment that Taiwan’s military must be prepared to turn the nation’s waters into a “hellscape” for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Paparo, the commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, reiterated the concept during a Congressional hearing in Washington on Wednesday. He first coined the term in a security conference last
Prosecutors today declined to say who was questioned regarding alleged forgery on petitions to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators, after Chinese-language media earlier reported that members of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Youth League were brought in for questioning. The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau confirmed that two people had been questioned, but did not disclose any further information about the ongoing investigation. KMT Youth League members Lee Hsiao-liang (李孝亮) and Liu Szu-yin (劉思吟) — who are leading the effort to recall DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) and Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) — both posted on Facebook saying: “I
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,912) for advertisements that exceed its approved business scope, requiring the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license may be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter enforcement of Chinese e-commerce platforms and measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan in response to US President Donald Trump’s heavy tariffs on China. The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee met today to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) said
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,900) for advertisements that exceeded its approved business scope and ordered the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license would be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter supervision of Chinese e-commerce platforms and more stringent measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan as US President Donald Trump’s administration cracks down on origin laundering. The legislature’s Finance Committee yesterday met to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report on the matter. Democratic Progressive Party
RSS