Japan on Saturday renewed its call for dialogue between China and Taiwan following Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou's (
In a statement after the result was confirmed, Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said: "Japan hopes that the issue surrounding Taiwan will be resolved peacefully by direct dialogue between the parties concerned on the Taiwan Straits [sic] and that dialogue will resume soon for that purpose."
The foreign minister insisted that Japan's diplomatic relations with China remained unchanged, saying: "It intends to maintain Japan-Taiwan relations as a working relationship on a non-governmental basis."
Singapore had similar views.
"We welcome the successful conclusion of Taiwan's presidential election ... and congratulate Dr Ma Ying-jeou on his election," a foreign ministry spokesman said late on Saturday.
"We look forward to better cross-strait relations," the spokesman said in a statement.
"We urge all parties to take advantage of this new opportunity to resume dialogue and work towards greater peace and prosperity in the region," he said.
Meanwhile, Beijing welcomed the failure of the Democratic Progressive Party-sponsored referendum, which asked whether Taiwan should apply to enter the UN under the name "Taiwan."
"[President] Chen Shui-bian's [陳水扁] administration put forth a referendum to join the United Nations under the name `Taiwan,' but that referendum has failed, which goes to show that the people are not in favor of those who advocate Taiwan independence," Li Weiyi (李維一), spokesman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, told Taiwanese reporters in Beijing.
Beijing's major newspapers yesterday gave accounts of the referendums, putting them ahead of the election results, indicating the Chinese Communist Party views the failed vote favorably.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) is unlikely to attempt an invasion of Taiwan during US president-elect Donald Trump’s time in office, Taiwanese and foreign academics said on Friday. Trump is set to begin his second term early next year. Xi’s ambition to establish China as a “true world power” has intensified over the years, but he would not initiate an invasion of Taiwan “in the near future,” as his top priority is to maintain the regime and his power, not unification, Tokyo Woman’s Christian University distinguished visiting professor and contemporary Chinese politics expert Akio Takahara said. Takahara made the comment at a
Upon its completion next year, the new Tamkang Bridge (淡江大橋) in New Taipei City is to be an important landmark in Taiwan, alongside Taipei 101, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shi-kai (陳世凱) said today. The bridge is scheduled to be completed in December next year and open to the public in the first half of 2026, connecting New Taipei City’s Tamsui (淡水) and Bali (八里) districts. It is an asymmetric single-tower suspension bridge, nearly 70 stories tall, designed by world-famous architect Zaha Hadid. The bridge aims to alleviate traffic in Tamsui and on the Guandu Bridge (關渡大橋), in addition to increasing the
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EXERCISES: A 2022 article by a Chinese intelligence expert identified at least six People’s Liberation Army assault boats hidden inside the Hong Kong-flagged ship A Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship that had been docked at Taichung Port and which previously took part in Chinese military exercises departed from the port on Saturday, the Taiwan International Ports Corp’s Taichung branch said yesterday. The statement came in response to a post on the social media platform X by Taiwan-based journalist Chris Horton that said the ship, the SCSC Fortune, had been docked at the port since Tuesday and questioned whether Taiwan has any rules regarding foreign civilian vessels that have participated in People’s Liberation Army (PLA) exercises. Horton referenced a 2022 article by Chinese intelligence expert Rod Lee that
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