The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday vowed to stage a comeback in the US as it unveiled a plaque for its planned liaison office in Washington, which it said is a sign of its resolve to advance its ties with the US.
The plaque, whose design was authorized by KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) and the party, is of great importance to the KMT and would be sent to the office for its inauguration, KMT Department of International Affairs director Alexander Huang (黃介正) told a news conference.
The liaison office would be on Pennsylvania Avenue, which connects Capitol Hill and the White House, he said.
Photo: CNA
Huang on Oct. 21 last year said the office would allow those in the US to hear voices from Taiwan besides that of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, adding that if the KMT were to return to power, the office would serve the interests of both countries.
KMT Culture and Communications Committee director Ling Tao (凌濤) displayed a Republic of China flag, as well as a KMT flag that flew at the joint Washington office of the KMT and the People First Party from 2004 to 2008.
The joint office was closed after former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) took office.
The two flags would be flown again at the office following its reopening, Ling said, adding that they symbolize the heritage of the KMT’s relations with the US.
“The KMT is set to return to Washington with its pragmatic foreign policy to rebuild two-way communication channels,” he said.
Upon becoming KMT chairperson in October, Chu promised to reopen the office, saying that it would restore mutual trust and two-way communication.
There have been no clues as to who is to serve as the KMT’s representative to Washington.
Chu is reportedly planning to attend the office’s inauguration in the spring as part of a wider tour of the US.
The office would be tasked with bolstering two-way communication between the party and US policymakers to mend ties with Washington, the KMT said in November.
The first two F-16V Bock 70 jets purchased from the US are expected to arrive in Taiwan around Double Ten National Day, which is on Oct. 10, a military source said yesterday. Of the 66 F-16V Block 70 jets purchased from the US, the first completed production in March, the source said, adding that since then three jets have been produced per month. Although there were reports of engine defects, the issue has been resolved, they said. After the jets arrive in Taiwan, they must first pass testing by the air force before they would officially become Taiwan’s property, they said. The air force
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, would pose a steep challenge to Taiwan’s ability to defend itself against a full-scale invasion, a defense expert said yesterday. Institute of National Defense and Security Research analyst Chieh Chung (揭仲) made the comment hours after the PLAN confirmed the carrier recently passed through the Taiwan Strait to conduct “scientific research tests and training missions” in the South China Sea. China has two carriers in operation — the Liaoning and the Shandong — with the Fujian undergoing sea trials. Although the PLAN needs time to train the Fujian’s air wing and
PAWSITIVE IMPACT: A shop owner said that while he adopted cats to take care of rodents, they have also attracted younger visitors who also buy his dried goods In Taipei’s Dadaocheng (大稻埕), cats lounging in shops along Dihua Street do more than nap amid the scent of dried seafood. Many have become beloved fixtures who double as photography models, attracting visitors and helping boost sales in one of the capital’s most historic quarters. A recent photo contest featuring more than a dozen shop cats drew more than 2,200 submissions, turning everyday cat-spotting into a friendly competition that attracted amateur and professional photographers. “It’s rare to see cats standing, so when it suddenly did, it felt like a lucky cat,” said Sabrina Hsu (徐淳蔚), who won the NT$10,000 top prize in