Beijing is expected to continue using political and military threats, as well as people in Taiwan who support unification, to push Taiwan into becoming part of China, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in a report published yesterday.
The report, which the council publishes periodically, analyzes five aspects of the situation in China: its internal affairs, foreign relations and military moves in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as changes in Hong Kong and Macau, and cross-strait relations.
Beijing has intensified its work to “accelerate unification” with Taiwan, the report said.
Photo: Taipei Times files
Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Politburo Standing Committee member Wang Huning (王滬寧) and Taiwan Affairs Office Director Song Tao (宋濤) this month told visiting Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) leaders that Taiwan and China can increase exchanges and form partnerships on the basis of the so-called “1992 consensus” and opposition to independence, it said.
The “1992 consensus,” a term former MAC chairman Su Chi (蘇起) in 2006 admitted making up in 2000, refers to a tacit understanding between the KMT and the CCP that both sides of the Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
Song also called for cross-strait exchanges to restart as he met with representatives from religious groups in Taiwan, and agricultural and fishery industries to express his condolences after Buddhist master Hsing Yun (星雲), founder of the Kaohsiung-based Fo Guang Shan, died on Feb. 5, the report said.
In the past two years, Beijing unilaterally suspended imports of agricultural, fishery and food products from Taiwan, but revealed that some Taiwanese products have been allowed in after businesses completed registration, the report said.
Beijing has urged Taipei to resume cross-strait flights, as well as the “small three links” connecting China with Kinmen and Lienchiang counties, it said.
“Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) told US President Joe Biden in a G20 meeting in Indonesia in November last year that Taiwan is the core of China’s core interests and a red line that must not be crossed,” it said. “In response to US House of Representative Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s potential visit to Taiwan, the CCP also highlighted that it would prevent external forces from intervening in China’s internal affairs and frustrate the plan of pro-Taiwan independence activists.”
China claimed that combat drills in waters and airspace around Taiwan in August last year were launched in response to provocative actions by Taiwan, it said.
“It is expected that the CCP would intensify use of its two-pronged approach toward Taiwan: In addition to the persistent political and military threats, it would continue to use unification supporters and platforms to promote cross-strait exchanges and facilitate the work of unification,” the report said.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense reiterated that this year it would focus on preparing for war, and improving joint and all-domain combat capabilities, the report said.
The Liaoning aircraft carrier conducted drills near Guam for the first time in December last year, it said, adding that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army had monitored a US carrier.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old