Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) told lawmakers yesterday that Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan's (連戰) calling President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) on Monday may not necessarily legalize his meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) and any potential agreements he might ink with Hu in Beijing.
"He said he will call the president and talk about this matter. Well, by law, calling the president and gaining authorization from the government are two totally different scenarios," Hsieh said.
"His promise to call the president before taking off for China is a polite and friendly move. We welcome and appreciate that. However, it has nothing to do with obeying the law," the premier said.
Hsieh comments were in response to Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Chao-lung's (陳朝龍) question about whether Lien's promise to call the president would be regarded as having gained authorization from the government.
According to the Act Governing Relations Between Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (兩岸人民關係條例), anyone who wishes to represent Taiwan in agreements or other arrangements with the Chinese government must first obtain authorization from the Mainland Affairs Council.
"Talking to the president is not equal to gaining authorization from the council," Hsieh said.
He reiterated that any citizen's plan -- including Lien and People First Party Chairman James Soong's (宋楚瑜) -- to travel anywhere in the world would be accepted and approved by the government except for members of the police, the military and others who are banned for traveling to China.
"To be precise, the government will not interfere with anyone's travel plans as long as it does not concern the nation," Hsieh said.
"We, therefore, will definitely not interfere Lien's or Soong's plans or ban them from traveling. That would be totally illegal," he said.
Hsieh said that Lien's promise to call the president is simple politeness to the government and the country, since Lien is the chairman of an important political party.
"His promise shows that he recognizes and respects the president, the government and the country. We are glad and appreciate it," Hsieh said.
During his conversation with lawmakers, Hsieh urged the public to consider why the Chinese government would welcome Taiwan's politicians to visit China at this point in time.
"After our March 26 rally against their `Anti-Secession' Law, there has been a great pressure on the Chinese government, forcing it to show a sincere and friendly attitude toward the Taiwanese people," the premier said. "We must be careful of that."
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
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday said it is fully aware of the situation following reports that the son of ousted Chinese politician Bo Xilai (薄熙來) has arrived in Taiwan and is to marry a Taiwanese. Local media reported that Bo Guagua (薄瓜瓜), son of the former member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, is to marry the granddaughter of Luodong Poh-Ai Hospital founder Hsu Wen-cheng (許文政). The pair met when studying abroad and arranged to get married this year, with the wedding breakfast to be held at The One holiday resort in Hsinchu
Tropical Storm Usagi strengthened to a typhoon this morning and remains on track to brush past southeastern Taiwan between Friday and Sunday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The storm, which as of 8am was still 1,100km southeast of southern Taiwan, is currently expected to enter the Bashi Channel and then turn north, moving into waters southeast of Taiwan, the CWA said. Because of its rapid speed — 28kph as of 8am — a sea warning for the storm could be issued tonight, rather than tomorrow, as previously forecast, the CWA said. In terms of its impact, Usagi is to bring scattered or
An orange gas cloud that leaked from a waste management plant yesterday morning in Taoyuan’s Guanyin District (觀音) was likely caused by acidic waste, authorities said, adding that it posed no immediate harm. The leak occurred at a plant in the district’s Environmental Science and Technology Park at about 7am, the Taoyuan Fire Department said. Firefighters discovered a cloud of unidentified orange gas leaking from a waste tank when they arrived on the site, it said, adding that they put on Level A chemical protection before entering the building. After finding there was no continuous leak, the department worked with the city’s Department
RSS