Premier Frank Hsieh (
Speaking to legislators during a questioning session, Hsieh proposed that the issue be put aside until a consciousness of common destiny is established in Taiwan so as to reduce the controversy surrounding the issue.
Hsieh agreed that it would be convenient and practical to change the country's name to "Taiwan" from the "Republic of China," since the current name can be abbreviated to become "China."
However, Hsieh pointed out that Taiwan faces a diplomatic deadlock resulting from China's international campaign to isolate it. Beijing claims that "Taiwan is part of the People's Republic of China [PRC]."
In these circumstances, it is difficult for Taiwan to expand its foreign relations regardless of whether is uses the name "Republic of China [ROC]" or "Taiwan," Hsieh said.
According to Hsieh, the pro-independence movement in Taiwan is confusing the international community, making many countries believe that Taiwan is not yet an independent country and that it is now trying to gain independence from the PRC.
Therefore, Taiwan should from now on avoid calling for independence and instead emphasize that the ROC is an independent and sovereign state separate from the PRC and that it is not necessary to declare independence from any country, he said.
Taiwan should also follow this course is its own national security, as it needs to consider the possible reaction from China, he said.
Taipei and New Taipei City government officials are aiming to have the first phase of the Wanhua-Jungho-Shulin Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line completed and opened by 2027, following the arrival of the first train set yesterday. The 22km-long Light Green Line would connect four densely populated districts in Taipei and New Taipei City: Wanhua (萬華), Jhonghe (中和), Tucheng (土城) and Shulin (樹林). The first phase of the project would connect Wanhua and Jhonghe districts, with Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Chukuang (莒光) being the terminal stations. The two municipalities jointly hosted a ceremony for the first train to be used
MILITARY AID: Taiwan has received a first batch of US long-range tactical missiles ahead of schedule, with a second shipment expected to be delivered by 2026 The US’ early delivery of long-range tactical ballistic missiles to Taiwan last month carries political and strategic significance, a military source said yesterday. According to the Ministry of National Defense’s budget report, the batch of military hardware from the US, including 11 sets of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and 64 MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems, had been scheduled to be delivered to Taiwan between the end of this year and the beginning of next year. However, the first batch arrived last month, earlier than scheduled, with the second batch —18 sets of HIMARS, 20 MGM-140 missiles and 864 M30
Representative to the US Alexander Yui delivered a letter from the government to US president-elect Donald Trump during a meeting with a former Trump administration official, CNN reported yesterday. Yui on Thursday met with former US national security adviser Robert O’Brien over a private lunch in Salt Lake City, Utah, with US Representative Chris Stewart, the Web site of the US cable news channel reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. “During that lunch the letter was passed along, and then shared with Trump, two of the sources said,” CNN said. O’Brien declined to comment on the lunch, as did the Taipei
A woman who allegedly attacked a high-school student with a utility knife, injuring his face, on a Taipei metro train late on Friday has been transferred to prosecutors, police said yesterday. The incident occurred near MRT Xinpu Station at about 10:17pm on a Bannan Line train headed toward Dingpu, New Taipei City police said. Before police arrived at the station to arrest the suspect, a woman surnamed Wang (王) who is in her early 40s, she had already been subdued by four male passengers, one of whom was an off-duty Taipei police officer, police said. The student, 17, who sustained a cut about
RSS