Visiting former American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) chairwoman Therese Shaheen yesterday warned that legislative delays to the Ministry of National Defense's NT$610.8 million (US$19.1 billion) arms budget would have a negative impact on the nation's security.
Shaheen arrived in Taipei yesterday for a week-long visit and is scheduled to meet President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (陳唐山) tomorrow, officials said.
PHOTO: TONY YAO, TAIPEI TIMES
Shaheen, now president of the US-Asia Commercial Development Corp, a Washington-based firm with a major presence in Taiwan, is visiting as a private citizen.
Shaheen's company specializes in Asian market entry, international joint ventures and acquisitions, capital investment and technology development. The firm's focus is in telecommunications, submarine cables and semiconductors, primarily in Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.
Shaheen told reporters that she would like to meet Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
China has consistently increased its weapons budget, she said, adding that Taiwan's defense capability was lagging behind that of China.
Flying in from South Korea, Shaheen told reporters at CKS Airport that she was very happy to be in Taiwan again, and she lauded the nation's democratization.
Taiwan has contributed a lot to the world, and its democratization deserved the attention of the international community, she said.
Noting that her trip was of a private nature, Shaheen said she was informed of the death on Monday of Koo Chen-fu (
Expressing her condolences, Shaheen said Koo was an elegant gentleman who made a great contribution to Taiwan.
This trip is Shaheen's second visit to Taiwan since she stepped down as AIT chairwoman last April. She is expected to discuss Taiwan-US relations and other international developments with Chen Shui-bian.
"We welcome her visit. She treated us really well when President Chen visited New York," Mark Chen told reporters on Tuesday, referring to the US' warm reception of the president at a stopover during his overseas tour in 2003.
Shaheen said she had brought a gift for Chen Shui-bian's second grandson, who was born last month.
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) yesterday appealed to the authorities to release former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) from pretrial detention amid conflicting reports about his health. The TPP at a news conference on Thursday said that Ko should be released to a hospital for treatment, adding that he has blood in his urine and had spells of pain and nausea followed by vomiting over the past three months. Hsieh Yen-yau (謝炎堯), a retired professor of internal medicine and Ko’s former teacher, said that Ko’s symptoms aligned with gallstones, kidney inflammation and potentially dangerous heart conditions. Ko, charged with
RSS