Legislators across party lines yesterday welcomed US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, marking the first time in 25 years that an incumbent US House speaker has visited the nation.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Hsu Chih-chieh (許智傑) cited the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) support for Pelosi’s visit — including from senior party members KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) and former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) — as evidence that President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) foreign diplomacy is on the right course.
Pelosi’s visit has special meaning for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region as a whole, DPP Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) said.
Photo: Reuters
The visit marks a high point in Taiwan-US relations, Wang said, adding that it underscores the failure of China’s oppressive policies and, more importantly, its strategy against Taiwan and the US.
Pelosi’s visit, especially in the face of Chinese pressure, reinforces the idea that the US is reliable and credible among democratic nations in the Indo-Pacific region, Wang said.
Taiwan welcomes visits from its friends, but urges Washington and Beijing to restrain themselves and respect the autonomy of the Republic of China, KMT Legislator Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) said.
Photo: Wu Chun-feng, Taipei Times
Taiwan should not be a chip on the table in the great game of the US-China conflict, he said, urging visiting US friends to heed Taiwan’s call for more substantial acts of support.
The signing of a bilateral trade agreement, Taiwan joining the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity or being a part of upcoming Rim of the Pacific exercises would all be welcome news, Chiang said.
The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) also welcomed Pelosi and looks forward to substantial improvements in Taiwan-US relations, TPP caucus convener Chiu Chen-yuan (邱臣遠) said.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
The first visit by a US House speaker in 25 years would be a conclusive sign that the US government and its people support Taiwan’s democracy, Chiu said.
Pelosi’s visit shows that Chinese pressure tactics would not impede US support for Taiwan, New Power Party legislative caucus convener Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智) said.
It shows that the White House is starting to adjust its policies and outright US support for Taiwan would become the new consensus, Chiu Hsien-chih said.
Meanwhile, Japanese-language Sankei Shinbun Taipei office head Akio Yaita said that Pelosi’s overnight stay in Taipei was a significant breakthrough for Taiwan’s diplomacy, adding that Japanese politicians could observe the same model for visits.
If China failed to stop Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, it would have no leg to stand on to prevent Japanese politicians from visiting Taiwan, Yaita added.
Additional reporting by Chen Yu-fu and CNA
Civil society groups yesterday protested outside the Legislative Yuan, decrying Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) efforts to pass three major bills that they said would seriously harm Taiwan’s democracy, and called to oust KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁). It was the second night of the three-day “Bluebird wintertime action” protests in Taipei, with organizers announcing that 8,000 people attended. Organized by Taiwan Citizen Front, the Economic Democracy Union (EDU) and a coalition of civil groups, about 6,000 people began a demonstration in front of KMT party headquarters in Taipei on Wednesday, organizers said. For the third day, the organizers asked people to assemble
Taipei is participating in Osaka’s Festival of Lights this year, with a 3m-tall bubble tea light installation symbolizing Taiwan’s bubble tea culture. The installation is designed as a bubble tea cup and features illustrations of Taipei’s iconic landmarks, such as Taipei 101, the Red House and North Gate, as well as soup dumplings and the matchmaking deity the Old Man Under the Moon (月下老人), affectionately known as Yue Lao (月老). Taipei and Osaka have collaborated closely on tourism and culture since Taipei first participated in the festival in 2018, the Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism said. In February, Osaka represented
POOR IMPLEMENTATION: Teachers welcomed the suspension, saying that the scheme disrupted school schedules, quality of learning and the milk market A policy to offer free milk to all school-age children nationwide is to be suspended next year due to multiple problems arising from implementation of the policy, the Executive Yuan announced yesterday. The policy was designed to increase the calcium intake of school-age children in Taiwan by drinking milk, as more than 80 percent drink less than 240ml per day. The recommended amount is 480ml. It was also implemented to help Taiwanese dairy farmers counter competition from fresh milk produced in New Zealand, which is to be imported to Taiwan tariff-free next year when the Agreement Between New Zealand and
Taiwanese professional baseball should update sports stadiums and boost engagement to enhance fans’ experience, Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) commissioner Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) told the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) in an interview on Friday. The league has urged Farglory Group and the Taipei City Government to improve the Taipei Dome’s outdated equipment, including relatively rudimentary television and sound systems, and poor technology, he said. The Tokyo Dome has markedly better television and sound systems, despite being 30 years old, because its managers continually upgraded its equipment, Tsai said. In contrast, the Taipei Dome lacked even a room for referees
RSS