Washington expects President Chen Shui-bian (
Duty press officer Janelle Hironimus said the US does not object to the promotion of good governance in Taiwan through referendums or constitutional reforms.
"Chen Shui-bian has repeatedly pledged not to declare independence, not to change Taiwan's name, not to add the state-to-state theory into the constitution and not to promote a referendum to change the status quo on independence or unification," Hironimus said.
PHOTO: SUNG CHIH-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
"We expect that President Chen will adhere to his pledges, which we take very seriously, when undertaking any further constitutional reforms," she added.
In his New Year address, Chen renewed his promise to give the people of Taiwan a new constitution that is timely, relevant and viable by 2008, saying he hopes a draft on the new constitution initiated by civic groups could be completed this year and that a referendum on the draft could be held next year.
Also in his address, Chen said the development of relations between Taiwan and China must adhere to the four principles of "sovereignty, democracy, peace and parity."
Hironimus reiterated that Washington does not support Taiwan independence and opposes unilateral changes to the cross-strait "status quo" by either Taipei or Beijing.
"We have consistently urged Taipei and Beijing to work to achieve direct dialogue, and we believe such efforts should continue at all levels as opportunities permit," she said.
She noted that the "one China" policy, the Taiwan Relations Act and the three US-China joint communiques remain the basis guiding unofficial relations between the US and Taiwan.
‘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
A wild live dugong was found in Taiwan for the first time in 88 years, after it was accidentally caught by a fisher’s net on Tuesday in Yilan County’s Fenniaolin (粉鳥林). This is the first sighting of the species in Taiwan since 1937, having already been considered “extinct” in the country and considered as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A fisher surnamed Chen (陳) went to Fenniaolin to collect the fish in his netting, but instead caught a 3m long, 500kg dugong. The fisher released the animal back into the wild, not realizing it was an endangered species at
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
RSS