There is a need for Taiwan to legislate a law in a bid to counter China's plan to enact an "anti-secession law," former president Lee Teng-hui (
"The relationship between China and Taiwan, as well as relevant policies in this regard, would definitely meet with an immediate impact in view of China's strong effort in pushing for the enactment of its anti-secession law," Lee said.
"It is therefore necessary and urgent to formulate a law that clearly defines the relations between China and Taiwan and the rights and obligations incurred in the two countries' interaction," said Lee at the Taiwan Solidarity Union's (TSU) policy conference yesterday, noting that the issue would be high on the party's agenda in the new legislature session, which will convene on Feb. 25.
The conference, attended by the party's rank-and-file officials and legislators, was part of the TSU's customary meeting prior to each legislative session to deliberate policies and set priorities on bills which the party aims to push.
Lee said that Taiwan, being an independent, sovereign nation, can never accept such unreasonable treatment from China and that Taiwan must map out countermeasures ahead of time to let China, as well as the world, know of the determination of Taiwan's 23 million people to pursue democracy and safeguard sovereignty.
"Whether there should be a `China Relations Act' or an `anti-annexation law' is something that requires us all to put our heads together and undertake cautious research before finalizing the matter," the former president said to his audience.
In his speech, Lee also expressed his expectation that the TSU would listen closely to people's voice, and must not become corrupted and proceed out of mere selfish, personal interests.
At the event, Lee signed a petition which would allow the public to take part in voicing opposition to China's anti-secession law. The TSU is also slated to stage a large-scale parade in Kaohsiung early next month for the same purpose.
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