The leaders of Taiwan’s five branches of government convened this afternoon at the Presidential Office in Taipei to discuss national policies.
President William Lai (賴清德) exercised his constitutional power to call the meeting, hoping to encourage cross-party and inter-governmental cooperation in the face of severe political and economic challenges.
Lai gave a speech emphasizing unity and presented the leaders with gifts before the closed-door meeting began.
Photo: CNA
“The world faces severe challenges due to geopolitical shocks, the restructuring of supply chains and the rapid development of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence,” Lai said.
“Taiwan faces threats from China’s diplomatic and military intimidation and ‘united front’ infiltration,” he said.
“In the face of these challenges, Taiwan must unite,” he said, adding that this is the only way to strengthen Taiwan’s national defense, economy and societal resilience.
He compared the five branches of government to five fingers, each with its own function, but only having strength when working together.
Through the meeting, the five branches can establish “a platform for communication, clarify constitutional boundaries, unite the nation, resolve disputes and jointly seek solutions to problems,” Lai said.
“Whether facing external storms or internal disputes, we will firmly and unwaveringly move the nation forward,” Lai said.
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) prioritizes the well-being of the people and believes that Taiwan should unite and avoid conflict, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said yesterday.
Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) would clearly express to Lai the hope for Taiwan to remain united and harmonious during the meeting, Chu added.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has fostered division, caused societal turmoil and pushed for large-scale recalls, which would lead to instability in Taiwan, he said.
For a country to progress, politics must be clean and effective, particularly in terms of legislative oversight, KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) said today.
The ability of the opposition to maximize its role in this process affects the welfare of the people and national development, Fu said.
Lai’s leadership would be critical in determining whether Taiwan moves forward in peace and harmony, or continues down a path of conflict, he said.
Today’s meeting would hopefully yield positive results, but legislative oversight must continue to be strengthened, he added.
Twenty-four Republican members of the US House of Representatives yesterday introduced a concurrent resolution calling on the US government to abolish the “one China” policy and restore formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Led by US representatives Tom Tiffany and Scott Perry, the resolution calls for not only re-establishing formal relations, but also urges the US Trade Representative to negotiate a free-trade agreement (FTA) with Taiwan and for US officials to advocate for Taiwan’s full membership in the UN and other international organizations. In a news release announcing the resolution, Tiffany, who represents a Wisconsin district, called the “one China” policy “outdated, counterproductive
Actress Barbie Hsu (徐熙媛) has “returned home” to Taiwan, and there are no plans to hold a funeral for the TV star who died in Japan from influenza- induced pneumonia, her family said in a statement Wednesday night. The statement was released after local media outlets reported that Barbie Hsu’s ashes were brought back Taiwan on board a private jet, which arrived at Taipei Songshan Airport around 3 p.m. on Wednesday. To the reporters waiting at the airport, the statement issued by the family read “(we) appreciate friends working in the media for waiting in the cold weather.” “She has safely returned home.
ON PAROLE: The 73-year-old suspect has a criminal record of rape committed when he was serving in the military, as well as robbery and theft, police said The Kaohsiung District Court yesterday approved the detention of a 73-year-old man for allegedly murdering three women. The suspect, surnamed Chang (張), was arrested on Wednesday evening in connection with the death of a 71-year-old woman surnamed Chao (趙). The Kaohsiung City Police Department yesterday also unveiled the identities of two other possible victims in the serial killing case, a 75-year-old woman surnamed Huang (黃), the suspect’s sister-in-law, and a 75-year-old woman surnamed Chang (張), who is not related to the suspect. The case came to light when Chao disappeared after taking the suspect back to his residence on Sunday. Police, upon reviewing CCTV
TRUMP ERA: The change has sparked speculation on whether it was related to the new US president’s plan to dismiss more than 1,000 Joe Biden-era appointees The US government has declined to comment on a post that indicated the departure of Laura Rosenberger as chair of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). Neither the US Department of State nor the AIT has responded to the Central News Agency’s questions on the matter, after Rosenberger was listed as a former chair on the AIT’s official Web site, with her tenure marked as 2023 to this year. US officials have said previously that they usually do not comment on personnel changes within the government. Rosenberger was appointed head of the AIT in 2023, during the administration of former US president Joe
RSS