The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) does not have a tradition of sending the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) well-wishes on anniversaries of its founding, KMT Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) said yesterday.
Chiang’s remarks follow a Xinhua news agency report on Wednesday that former KMT chairpersons Lien Chan (連戰) and Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱), People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) and New Party Chairman Wu Cherng-dean (吳成典) had sent congratulatory messages to the CCP on the centenary of its founding.
Lien and Hung issued their messages in a “personal” capacity, and it shows that they are still concerned about cross-strait issues, Chiang said.
The KMT and the CCP did not congratulate each other on the KMT’s 120th and 125th anniversaries, or the CCP’s 90th and 95th anniversaries, he added.
Cross-strait efforts should be focused on establishing peaceful and stable relations, prosperous interaction, and freedom and equality for their respective citizens, Chiang said.
The KMT said in a statement that differences in ideology, resulting in the current state of cross-strait relations, continues to be the premier challenge facing Taiwanese.
The party said it would uphold the interests of the Republic of China in its cross-strait interactions, which should be based on the so-called “1992 consensus,” the spirit of which is incorporated into the Constitution, and cross-strait dialogue must not compromise democracy and freedom.
The “1992 consensus” — a term that former Mainland Affairs Council 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 that there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
The 2015 meeting of former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) in Singapore is an example of successful cross-strait dialogue, the KMT said.
Such experiences have shown that respecting political differences while seeking common ground can open the way for collaboration, it said.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday said in a statement that Taiwanese have rejected the CCP’s “one China” principle and the “1992 consensus.”
The international community has been alarmed about China’s actions against Hong Kongers, Uighurs and Tibetans, it said.
China must cease its attempts at coercion and military threats against Taiwan, which is crucial to peace and stability across the Strait, it said.
People who believe in the CCP are either stupid or evil, DPP Legislator Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) said, calling on the KMT to explain why some of its members side with what he said was an oppressive regime in Beijing.
The CCP’s 100-year history is that of its persecution of human rights over the past century, New Power Party (NPP) caucus whip Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智) told an online news conference yesterday.
People should instead commemorate the countless people who died at the CCP’s hands, NPP Chairwoman Chen Jiau-hua (陳椒華) said.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS