Taiwan Special Weapons - Nuclear, Biological Chemical and Missile Proliferation News

2004 Taiwan Special Weapons News

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December

CHINA TAIWAN POLITICS VOA 30 Dec 2004 -- Taiwan's High Court has thrown out a second bid by the opposition to overturn the result of the March presidential election, which President Chen Shui-bian won by only a slender margin. But the ruling may not have laid the issue to rest.
TAIWAN VOTE 'DEFUSED A BOMB'; SECESSION LAW REFLECTS 'LINGERING' CRISIS US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 27 Dec 2004
CHINA/ TAIWAN VOA 27 Dec 2004 -- China has threatened to crush Taiwan at any cost if the island declares independence. The belligerent rhetoric is at the center of a new national defense policy.
CHINA / TAIWAN / JAPAN VOA 23 Dec 2004 -- China has officially protested Japan's decision to allow Taiwan's former leader to visit.
CHINA US TAIWAN VOA 21 Dec 2004 -- Beijing has condemned a new U.S. plan to replace its civilian defense contractors in Taiwan with active duty military personnel. As VOA's Benjamin Sand reports from the Chinese capital, Washington's plan reverses a 25-year practice of avoiding a direct U.S. military presence in Taiwan.
TAIWAN/U.S. MILITARY VOA 20 Dec 2004 -- A new report claims Washington will soon replace its civilian defense experts on Taiwan with active-duty army personnel. The move would likely upset Chinese officials, who are sensitive to any foreign dealings with Taiwan.
Russia does not accept Taiwan independence in any form IRNA 18 Dec 2004 -- Russia does not accept independence of Taiwan in any form, the Russian Foreign Ministry`s spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said on Saturday, commenting on the Chinese parliament`s consideration of a draft law combating separatism.
CHINA/ TAIWAN LAW VOA 18 Dec 2004 -- Taiwan angrily denounced a proposed anti-secession law being considered in Beijing. As VOA's Benjamin Sand reports, officials in Taipei say the new law could provide mainland China with a legal pretext for a military assault on Taiwan.
CHINA TAIWAN JAPAN VOA 16 Dec 2004 -- China has condemned Tokyo's decision to allow the former president of Taiwan to visit Japan. The conflict comes during a period of heightened tensions between China and Japan.
CHINA-TAIWAN REAX VOA 13 Dec 2004 -- Chinese state media are lashing out at Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian, saying his party's loss in recent legislative elections is no guarantee that he will stop pushing his pro-independence agenda.
TAIPEI-BEIJING, TAIPEI-WASHINGTON TIES UNCHANGED AFTER ELECTIONS: MAC CNA 12 Dec 2004 -- The results of Saturday's legislative elections show that Taiwan is a pluralistic and democratic society and they will not affect Taipei-Beijing or Taipei-Washington ties, a government official said Sunday.
MAC CHIEF URGES BEIJING TO RESUME TALKS AFTER LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS CNA 11 Dec 2004 -- Taiwan's top mainland China policy formulator has urged Beijing to resume stalled cross-Taiwan Strait talks after Taiwan's legislative elections Saturday.
TAIWAN ELECTION VOA 11 Dec 2004 -- Taiwan's opposition parties defeated the pro-independence coalition in the island's legislative elections. The result means the island's president may have trouble pursuing his agenda of distancing Taiwan from mainland China.
MAC CHIEF REITERATES TAIWAN'S RESOLVE TO SEEK PEACE WITH CHINA CNA 10 Dec 2004 -- Taiwan is resolute in its pursuit of peace with mainland China, Joseph Jaushieh Wu, chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council said Friday.
CHIEFS OF ROC OVERSEAS MISSIONS FULLY SUPPORT 'NAME-CHANGE' PLAN CNA 10 Dec 2004 -- Chiefs of eight Republic of China overseas missions who returned to Taiwan earlier this week for consultations, unanimously approved the government's "name-change" policy on Friday.
E.U. WON'T NECESSARILY LIFT ARMS EMBARGO AGAINST CHINA IN 2005: ROC REP CNA 10 Dec 2004 -- The European Union will not necessarily lift its arms embargo against China in the first half of next year, Taiwan's representative to France said Friday.
TAIWAN ELECTION-SCENESETTER VOA 10 Dec 2004 -- Voters in Taiwan are preparing to go (are going) to the polls in parliamentary elections on Saturday. Officials in Mainland China will be watching the vote closely. They see the elections largely as a referendum on whether Taiwan will go ahead with constitutional and name changes - moves Beijing sees as steps toward formal independence.
NAME CHANGES FOR OVERSEAS MISSIONS WILL TAKE TIME: MOFA CNA 09 Dec 2004 -- A proposal to seek a name change for the country's missions overseas will need the consent of their host countries, which will be a time-consuming task that will take more than just two years, a government official said Thursday.
KMT CANDIDATE BLAMES CHINA FOR FUELING TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE CNA 09 Dec 2004 -- China has unwittingly fueled the sentiment for independence in Taiwan by going all out to stop the country using its official name of the Republic of China, a legislative candidate named by the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) said Thursday.
EU MIGHT LIFT CHINA ARMS EMBARGO IN FIRST HALF 2005: FOREIGN MINISTRY CNA 09 Dec 2004 -- Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials said Thursday that the European Union is likely to lift its arms embargo against China during the first half of next year and that Taiwan is closely monitoring the development.
PRESIDENT: NAME CHANGE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO CNA 08 Dec 2004 -- Changing the names of Taiwan's overseas missions to include the word "Taiwan" is the right thing to do, President Chen Shui-bian claimed while stumping for a legislative candidate of his Democratic Progressive Party in Taipei Wednesday.
NAME CHANGE THE ROAD TAIWAN MUST FOLLOW: DPP OFFICIAL CNA 08 Dec 2004 -- Changing the names of Taiwan's overseas missions and state-owned enterprises is an "inevitable" path that Taiwan must follow and it will not budge under pressure, an official of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said Wednesday.
TAIWAN SHOULD HEED U.S. VIEWS FOR SECURITY'S SAKE: TAIPEI MAYOR CNA 08 Dec 2004 -- Taiwan should take heed of the views and stance of the United States for the sake of Taiwan's own security, Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou said Wednesday.
'PAN-GREEN' VICTORY WOULD HELP CROSS-STRAIT TALKS: PRESIDENT CNA 07 Dec 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Tuesday he looks forward to a victory for the "pan-green camp" in this weekend's legislative elections, as it would strengthen his mandate to negotiate with mainland China.
TAIWAN WILL FACE CRISES IF DPP FAILS IN ELECTIONS: PRESIDENT CNA 07 Dec 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Tuesday that Taiwan could face five crises if the "pan-green camp" fails to win more than half of the seats up for grabs in this weekend's legislative elections.
VICE PRESIDENT CALLS FOR PUBLIC'S SUPPORT FOR NAME-CHANGE PROPOSAL CNA 07 Dec 2004 -- Vice President Annette Lu on Tuesday urged the public to support the proposal advocated by President Chen Shui-bian to change the names of the Republic of China's foreign missions and state-own enterprises.
NAME-CHANGE TO HIGHLIGHT TAIWAN'S IDENTITY: PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE CNA 07 Dec 2004 -- The government's plan to include the word "Taiwan" in the names of its foreign missions and state-run enterprises is aimed at highlighting Taiwan's identity and has nothing to do with changing the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, an aide to the president said Tuesday.
NAME-CHANGE POLICY WON'T ALTER CROSS-STRAIT STATUS QUO: MINISTER CNA 07 Dec 2004 -- The government's plan to include the word "Taiwan" in the names of its foreign missions and state-run enterprises will not result in a change in the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Foreign Affairs Minister Tan Sun Chen said Tuesday.
TAIWAN TO SEEK MUTUAL CONSENT ON NAME-CHANGE FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS CNA 07 Dec 2004 -- Premier Yu Shyi-kun said Tuesday that Taiwan will seek the consent of specific countries before changing the names of the Republic of China's foreign missions.
U.S. NOT SUPPORTIVE OF TAIWAN'S NAME-CHANGE PROPOSAL: STATE DEPT. CNA 07 Dec 2004 -- The U.S. State Department made it clear Monday that it does not support Taiwan's proposal to change the designations of the island's state-controlled enterprises and its overseas representative offices.
November
CHINA/TAIWAN VOA 30 Nov 2004 -- Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian's decision to hold a national referendum on revising the constitution in 2006 has further strained relations between the island and mainland China. China considers Taiwan a renegade province and says any moves toward independence will be countered by force. Analysts say the relationship between Beijing and Tapei will continue to be strained.
U-S-TAIWAN/VULNERABILITY VOA 17 Nov 2004 -- A top U.S. defense official is warning China is developing techniques to virtually cut off rival Taiwan from communications with the rest of the world and is urging Taiwan's leaders do more to safeguard the island's high tech infrastructure.
CHINA-TAIWAN VOA 17 Nov 2004 -- Taiwan is again attempting to regain admission to the United Nations, and China, as usual, has quickly and loudly objected. Mainland officials on Wednesday had harsh words for the island's leaders, saying Taiwan is unfit to be a member of the world body.
Taiwan Will Never Develop Nukes, Vows Chen Taiwan News 11 Nov 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian declared yesterday that Taiwan will "absolutely not develop" nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction and "solemnly" urged China to "openly abandon the development and use of weapons of mass destruction."
U.S. Reiterates Firm Commitment to One China Policy Washington File 11 Nov 2004 -- In response to questions at its November 10 press briefing, the State Department issued a statement welcoming the "positive and constructive" points in Chen Shui-bian's cross-Strait policy speech.
PRESIDENT CHEN VOWS NOT TO DEVELOP WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION CNA 10 Nov 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Wednesday the Republic of China government would never develop weapons of mass destruction.
TAIWAN/ ELECTION VERDICT VOA 04 Nov 2004 -- Taiwan's high court has upheld President Chen Shui-bian's contested victory in March elections. Opposition leaders filed a lawsuit accusing the president of staging his own botched assassination one day before the vote and other irregularities.
October
CHINA-TAIWAN/POWELL REACTION VOA 27 Oct 2004 -- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell upset leaders on both sides of the Taiwan Strait this week with comments he made about Taiwan. China's leaders are rejecting his call for a dialogue with Taiwan, and Taiwan's president has angrily reaffirmed his view that the island is an independent country.
"One China" Policy Stabilizes Asia-Pacific Region, Powell Says Washington File 25 Oct 2004 -- The United States' "One China" policy has created conditions of stability and security throughout the Asia-Pacific region, Secretary of State Colin Powell said in an October 25 interview with Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV.
CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS: CHEN'S 'CHARM OFFENSIVE' IRKS PRC MEDIA US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 20 Oct 2004
CHINA-TAIWAN VOA 13 Oct 2004 -- China says the Taiwan president's offer for a peace dialogue is meaningless and that the island's leader is angling to declare independence.
TAIWAN BUBBLE VOA 12 Oct 2004 -- A beverage popular among Taiwan's youth has suddenly become a symbol of opposition to the government's planned purchase of advanced weapons from the United States.
CHINA/TAIWAN VOA 11 Oct 2004 -- China has rejected Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's call for dialogue and peace talks. President Chen made the overture during a much-publicized National Day speech in Taipei on Sunday.
TAIWAN/CHINA VOA 10 Oct 2004 -- Taiwan's president, Chen Shui-bian, has called for a "new code of conduct" with mainland China. Taiwan's leader is asking for direct talks with Beijing on arms control and ways to avoid military confrontation.
CHINA/US/TAIWAN VOA 08 Oct 2004 -- Chinese President Hu Jintao has called on President Bush not to sell weapons to Taiwan. The appeal came in a telephone conversation between the two leaders.
September
POWELL/CHINA/TAIWAN VOA 30 Sep 2004 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell and his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Thursday held what Mr. Powell termed a candid meeting at the State Department. They agreed on the need to continue Chinese-sponsored talks on North Korea's nuclear program, but clashed publicly over the issue of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
CHINA TAIWAN VOA 29 Sep 2004 -- China lashed out at Taiwan after the island's prime minister said it would defend itself by firing missiles at Shanghai in the event of an attack by China.
TAIWAN/ARMS PROTEST VOA 25 Sep 2004 -- Thousands of Taiwanese protested Saturday against government plans to purchase 18-billion-dollars worth of U.S. military equipment. The proposed purchase needs final approval by parliament.
US DIPLOMAT / TAIWAN VOA 16 Sep 2004 -- A veteran U.S. State Department official has been arrested and charged with concealing a trip to Taiwan. The official, until recently an adviser to Secretary of State Colin Powell, reportedly is also suspected of passing documents to Taiwanese intelligence agents.
CHINA-TAIWAN VOA 15 Sep 2004 -- China has lashed out at Taiwan after its leaders proposed using the name "Taiwan" more often than the island's official name - the Republic of China. The condemnation is the latest in what critics say is a renewed campaign by the mainland to isolate the self-governed island.
August

August
US / CHINA / TAIWAN VOA 31 Aug 2004 -- The United States Tuesday welcomed steps by China and Taiwan to ease cross-strait tensions by canceling long-planned military exercises.
TAIWAN WAR GAMES VOA 31 Aug 2004 -- Taiwan's president has called off a live-fire military exercise next week, hoping to ease tensions with China.
TAIWAN/CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM VOA 23 Aug 2004 -- Taiwanese lawmakers have amended their constitution to change the way the island's lawmakers are elected.
TAIWAN/CHEN TRIP VOA 18 Aug 2004 -- Taiwan's president is planning a pair of transit stops in the United States at the end of the month, despite increasingly harsh rhetoric from Beijing.
CHINA/TAIWAN VOA 16 Aug 2004 -- China has written a letter to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, condemning Taiwan's latest bid to join the world body. China's government accuses Taiwan of bringing relations to what it describes as the "brink of danger."
US CHINA TAIWAN VOA 03 Aug 2004 -- A leading U.S. senator says Washington will continue to sell weapons to Taiwan, despite opposition from the Chinese government. The arms deal dominated discussions between a U.S. Senate delegation and the head of China's parliament.
July
EAST ASIA'S 'LARGE-SCALE WAR GAMES' SPUR WARNINGS OF 'ESCALATION' US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 30 Jul 2004
CHINA/U.S. SPY VOA 28 Jul 2004 -- A Chinese-born American citizen will soon go on trial in China, accused of spying for political rival Taiwan.
CHINA / U.S. / TAIWAN VOA 23 Jul 2004 -- The Chinese foreign minister told a top U.S. commander Friday that military exchanges between Washington and Taipei must come to an end. The comments were made as both Taiwan and China begin military exercises and as cross-strait relations are strained.
BUSH ADMINISTRATION REAFFIRMS PRIORITY TO CROSS-STRAIT PEACE CNA 16 Jul 2004 -- The U.S. government attaches great importance to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Thursday.
MND MUM ON U.S. CRISIS-SIMULATION DRILL REPORTS CNA 16 Jul 2004 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) declined Friday to comment on foreign wire service reports that the U.S. Pentagon has held a crisis-simulation drill based on a growing mainland Chinese military threat to Taiwan.
JET FIGHTER FREEWAY DRILL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BEIJING: AIR FORCE CNA 14 Jul 2004 -- The plan to have air force jet fighters conduct take-off and landing drills on the Sun Yat-sen Expressway next week has nothing to do with mainland China's new "beheading" warfare tactics, a senior military officer said Wednesday.
U-S-China-Taiwan VOA 14 Jul 2004 -- The Bush administration said Wednesday that sales of American defensive arms to Taiwan will continue despite a new warning from China that the sales threaten the United States' relationship with Beijing.
MOFA EXPRESSES REGRET OVER MAINLAND MINISTER'S 'THREE STOP' REMARKS CNA 07 Jul 2004 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) expressed deep regret Friday over mainland Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing's "three stop" request to U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice over Taiwan.
RICE REJECTS BEIJING'S DEMAND FOR ENDING U.S. ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN CNA 07 Jul 2004 -- U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice has rebuffed mainland Chinese leaders' demands for an end to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, the Washington Post reported Friday.
NO OFFICIAL COMMENT ON PLAN TO DEFEND PO-AI DISTRICT WITH MISSILES CNA 07 Jul 2004 -- The Presidential Office declined to comment Wednesday on a media report that the Military Police Command will purchase Avenger missile systems to beef up air defenses in Taipei's Po-ai district -- the Republic of China's political nerve center.
TAIWAN/POLITICAL SHOOTING VOA 06 Jul 2004 -- Taiwan's president has agreed to demands for an independent investigation into an election-eve shooting that slightly wounded him and his vice president. His political opponents say the shooting was staged to get sympathy for President Chen Shui-Bian, who won the March election by a slim margin.
DEFENSE MINISTER EXPLAINS NEED FOR COSTLY U.S ARMS PURCHASE CNA 02 Jul 2004 -- Minister of National Defense Lee Jye Friday explained the armed forces' rational for requesting the purchase of US$610.8 billion (US$18.23 billion) in weaponry from the United States, arguing that the materiel is vital for Taiwan's security.
DPP ASKS FOR SPEEDY PASSAGE OF ARMS PROCUREMENT BUDGET CNA 01 Jul 2004 -- A legislator of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) claimed Thursday that it is "meaningless" to argue about the cost of arms procurements from the United States and that the most urgent task is to pass the budget early so as to let the Ministry of National Defense (MND) negotiate a reasonable price with the United States.
June
LEGISLATORS ASK U.S. TO GIVE NEW QUOTE FOR BUILDING SUBS CNA 23 Jun 2004 -- An ROC Legislative Yuan delegation visiting the United States has made two decisions regarding the submarine procurement plan and requested that the ROC Ministry of Defense pass on these decisions to its U.S. counterpart, a delegation member said Tuesday.
NEW QUOTATION MIGHT CAUSE POSTPONEMENT OF SUB DELIVERY: MND CNA 23 Jun 2004 -- A new quotation by the United States for eight submarines on Taiwan's military procurement list might lead to delays in delivery of the vessels, Huang Hui-sheng, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense (MND), said Wednesday.
TAIWAN'S DEFENSE NEEDS INVESTMENT: U.S. OFFICIALS CNA 22 Jun 2004 -- Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng, who is currently leading a Legislative Yuan delegation to discuss Taiwan's new arms procurement project in Washington, D.C., said Monday that the U.S. side has passed on a message to the delegation that Taiwan should spend money if it wants to upgrade its defense capability.
TAIWAN HOPES TO JOIN U.S.-INITIATED JSF DEVELOPMENT PLAN: MND CNA 21 Jun 2004 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has informed the United States of its desire to take part in the development of a new generation of combat aircraft known as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), Defense Minister Lee Jye said Monday.
DEFENSE MINISTER SETS FORTH `THREE PILLARS OF SECURITY' CNA 21 Jun 2004 -- Prevention of war, defense of territory and anti-terrorism reaction are the three pillars of the country's security, Minister of National Defense Lee Jye said Monday.
AIR FORCE JET FIGHTERS TO CONDUCT TRAINING DRILLS ON EXPRESSWAY CNA 19 Jun 2004 -- ROC Air Force jet fighters will practice takeoffs and landings at the Jenteh section of the Sun Yat-sen Expressway in July as part of the Hankuang (Chinese Glory) No. 20 exercise, a senior official confirmed Saturday.
TAIWAN NEEDS TO STRENGTHEN DEFENSE CAPABILITY: MAC OFFICIALS CNA 18 Jun 2004 -- Taiwan and mainland China can sign an agreement to establish a military mutual trust mechanism if Beijing abandons its political ideology and shows willingness to talks, officials of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Friday.
ROC LAWMAKERS TO VISIT U.S. MILITARY BASES FOR ARMS PROCUREMENT PLAN CNA 14 Jun 2004 -- The United States will arrange for a group of Taiwan lawmakers to visit major U.S. military bases later this week to seek their support for a huge budget for Taiwan's new arms procurement projects, government sources said Monday.
TWO SIDES OF TAIWAN STRAIT SHOULD ESTABLISH MUTUAL MILITARY TRUST CNA 11 Jun 2004 -- The two sides of the Taiwan Strait should establish a mechanism of mutual military trust, Taiwan's top mainland policy planner said Friday.
PRESIDENT URGES LEGISLATIVE BACKING FOR MILITARY PROCUREMENT CNA 10 Jun 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian asked Thursday for legislative support for a major military procurement program put forward by the Ministry of National Defense (MND) for the sake of the country's long-term defense capabilities, according to lawmakers of the opposition Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU).
PENTAGON REPORT DOES NOT SUGGEST THREE GORGES DAM TARGETED: MND CNA 09 Jun 2004 -- Vice Defense Minister Tsai Ming-hsien said Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Defense has never suggested that Taiwan should aim missiles at mainland China's Three Gorges dam as a way to deter any possible mainland invasion.
CHEN'S ELECTION VICTORY SHOWS `TAIWAN IDENTITY' GAINING MOMENTUM CNA 05 Jun 2004 -- Former President Lee Teng-hui said Saturday that President Chen Shui-bian's success in winning another four-year term shows that the sense of "Taiwan identity" is gaining an upper hand.
MND ELABORATES ON BUDGET ALLOCATIONS FOR MAJOR MILITARY PROCUREMENT CNA 04 Jun 2004 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) called a news conference Friday to elaborate on its budget allocations worth NT$610.8 billion (US$18.2 billion) for major military procurement programs amid grave public concern over the issue.
NO COMMENT FROM U.S. ON ROC CABINET'S APPROVAL OF BUDGET FOR U.S. ARMS CNA 04 Jun 2004 -- A U.S. State Department spokesman on Thursday refused to comment on issues related to the ROC Executive Yuan's approval of a special budget to buy weapons from the United States, saying only that the budget still needs to be passed by the island's legislators.
ROCSAT-2 SENDS BACK FIRST BATCH OF PHOTOS CNA 04 Jun 2004 -- ROCSAT-2 has sent back its first batch of test photos, with better-than-expected results, the National Space Program Office (NSPO) reported Friday.
MND ISSUES POSITION PAPER ON ARMS PROCUREMENT PLAN CNA 03 Jun 2004 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) issued a position paper Thursday to solicit public support for its three important arms procurement projects which will cost an estimated NT$610.8 billion (US$18.23 billion).
TAIWAN SHOULD INCREASE ARMS PURCHASES: CABINET SPOKESMAN CNA 03 Jun 2004 -- Executive Yuan spokesman Chen Chi-mai said Thursday that Taiwan should raise its military expenditures amid mainland China's increasing military buildup, in terms of both quality and quantity.
MAC WELCOMES U.S. PROPOSAL FOR TAIPEI-WASHINGTON-BEIJING CONTACTS CNA 03 Jun 2004 -- The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) welcomes any recommendation that can boost reconciliation or rapprochement across the Taiwan Strait, a senior official said Thursday.
BEIJING'S MAY 17 STATEMENT HAS SOME POSITIVE ELEMENTS: STATE DEP'T CNA 03 Jun 2004 -- A senior U.S. State Department official said Wednesday that although Beijing's statement issued May 17 was filled with personal criticism against Taiwan's leadership, there were some elements that people across the Taiwan Strait could focus on to work toward a peaceful resolution to cross-strait differences.
MAJOR MILITARY PROCUREMENT AIMED AT SELF-DEFENSE: MND VICE MINISTER CNA 02 Jun 2004 -- Major military procurement plans designed by the Ministry of National Defense (MND) are aimed at bolstering Taiwan's deterrent and self-defense capabilities, and do not translate to an arm race with mainland China, Vice Defense Minister Hou Shou-yeh said Wednesday.
LEGISLATURE SPEAKER TO HEAD DELEGATION TO U.S. FOR ARMS DEAL ISSUE CNA 02 Jun 2004 -- Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng will head a legislative delegation to visit the United States later this month to discuss arms procurement budget issues, political sources said Wednesday.
MND HAS NOT BEEN INFORMED OF U.S. GENERAL'S POSSIBLE VISIT: SPOKESMAN CNA 02 Jun 2004 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has not been informed of a possible visit to Taiwan in July by Brigadier General John Allen, a close aide to U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, a spokesman said Wednesday.
CABINET PASSES US$18.23 B. SPECIAL BUDGET FOR MAJOR ARMS PROCUREMENT CNA 02 Jun 2004 -- The Executive Yuan has passed a special budget of NT$610.8 billion (US$18.23 billion) for major military procurement to strengthen anti-missile defense and sea-control capability, a spokesman of the Executive Yuan said Wednesday.
BEIJING HAS YET TO UNIFY BASIC TAIWAN POLICY TONE: NSB CNA 02 Jun 2004 -- The mainland Chinese authorities have yet to unify their basic policy tone toward Taiwan, a senior national security official said Wednesday.
May
CHINA/U-S VOA 30 May 2004 -- President Bush has reaffirmed his commitment to the "one-China" policy in a conversation with his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao. As Celia Hatton reports from Beijing, the reassurance came after China criticized the United States for allowing Taiwan's vice president to make transit stops in the United States en route to and from Central America.
PRESIDENT URGES CABINET MEMBERS TO KEEP FOUR THINGS IN MIND CNA 29 May 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian on Saturday urged all Cabinet members to keep four things in mind: cross-strait relations, World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations, a better economy and Taiwan as an ocean country.
CHEN URGES GOV'T AGENCIES TO REVIEW CROSS-STRAIT TIES REGULARLY CNA 29 May 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Saturday that central and local government agencies themselves should regularly review new issues arising from cross-strait relations and integrate relevant issues into their day-to-day operations.
'ONE CHINA' CANNOT BE PRECONDITION FOR TALKS WITH MAINLAND: PREMIER CNA 29 May 2004 -- "One China" is a topic that can be discussed in talks between Taiwan and mainland China, but cannot be a precondition for such talks, Premier Yu Shyi-kun said Saturday in Ilan City, eastern Taiwan.
BEIJING FORGED DOCUMENTS OF TAIWAN'S INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES: ICHRD CNA 28 May 2004 -- The Hong Kong-based Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy (ICHRD) of China criticized Beijing's Ministry of State Security Friday for forging documents of Taiwan's intelligence agencies to accuse exiled mainland Chinese pro-democracy activists of working for the Republic of China government.
MAC HEADS INVITES MAINLAND CHINA'S TOP NEGOTIATOR TO VISIT TAIWAN CNA 27 May 2004 -- Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Joseph Wu invited mainland China's leading liaison official Thursday to meet here with his Taiwan counterpart, labeling such a meeting a common aspiration of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
U.S. DOES WORRY ABOUT TAIWAN STRAIT: U.S. NAVY SECRETARY CNA 27 May 2004 -- U.S. Secretary of the Navy Gordon England on Wednesday admitted that the United States does have worries about the Taiwan Strait situation.
SPECIAL BUDGET FOR MILITARY PROCUREMENT UNDER CABINET'S DISCUSSION CNA 26 May 2004 -- Minister of National Defense Lee Chieh said Wednesday that his ministry had submitted a NT$670 billion (US$20 billion) special budget plan for the procurement of three badly needed weaponry systems May 21 to the Executive Yuan for discussion.
TAIWAN, JAPAN SIGN NUCLEAR SAFETY COOPERATION AGREEMENT CNA 26 May 2004 -- The Nuclear Science and Technology Association (NUSTA) of Taiwan and the Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organization (JNES) signed an agreement Wednesday to promote bilateral cooperation in nuclear energy control and safety.
MND ASKED ABOUT TAIWAN'S CAPABILITY IN SENDING TROOPS OVERSEAS CNA 26 May 2004 -- National Defense Minister Li Chieh confirmed Wednesday that "high level" government officials had made inquiries at his ministry about Taiwan's capability in terms of dispatching troops overseas.
PRESIDENT STRESSES RESOLVE TO JOIN WHO IN TWO YEARS CNA 25 May 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian stressed Taiwan's resolve to enter the World Health Organization (WHO) Tuesday, and encouraged everyone to continue striving and stepping up international cooperation to that end.
U-S-TAIWAN VOA 25 May 2004 -- The State Department says Taiwan's vice president, Annette Lu, will transit through the United States later this week on a trip to Central America. The trip is described as private but she will meet some members of the U-S Congress.
MAC EXPRESSES REGRET AT BEIJING STATEMENT CNA 24 May 2004 -- The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Monday that it "deeply regrets" that the Beijing authorities have the "wrong perception and stance" of President Chen Shui-bian's inaugural speech.
PEACE WILL ENABLE DEVELOPMENT OF CROSS-STRAIT TIES: VICE PRESIDENT CNA 24 May 2004 -- Vice President Annette Lu said Monday that the premise for the development of cross-Taiwan Strait relations is peace, without which there will be no progress or prosperity.
BEIJING HURT FEELINGS OF TAIWAN PEOPLE: DPP CNA 24 May 2004 -- Mainland China has hurt the feelings of the Taiwan people by lambasting President Chen Shui-bian's inaugural address, even though the address was widely applauded at home and abroad, an official of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said Monday.
PRESIDENT WANTS TO IMPROVE CROSS-STRAIT TIES: OFFICIAL CNA 24 May 2004 -- The goodwill and sincerity President Chen Shui-bian offered in his May 20 inaugural address towards mainland China is beyond doubt, a ranking official of the Presidential Office said Monday.
U.S. REAFFIRMS VIEW OF CHEN'S INAUGURATION SPEECH AS 'CONSTRUCTIVE' CNA 22 May 2004 -- The U.S. State Department spokesman on Friday reaffirmed that Washington views President Chen Shui-bian's May 20 inauguration speech as "responsible and constructive" and as offering an opportunity for peaceful cross-strait dialogue.
White House Welcomes "Constructive" Address by Taiwan's Chen Washington File 21 May 2004 -- Following is the text of a White House statement on the May 20 inaugural address of President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan
U.S AUTHORIZED SALE OF DOCK LANDING SHIP TO TAIWAN CNA 21 May 2004 -- The House of Representatives authorized the U.S. president Friday to sell to Taiwan an Anchorage-class dock landing craft and step up exchanges between the U.S. military and the Republic of China armed forces.
BEIJING SHOULD RESPOND POSITIVELY TO INAUGURATION SPEECH: MAC CNA 21 May 2004 -- The nation's top mainland China policy planner urged Beijing Friday to respond positively to President Chen Shui-bian's inauguration speech.
BUSH CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT ON INAUGURATION CNA 20 May 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian received a congratulatory letter Thursday from U.S. President George W. Bush on his re-election victory and his inauguration for a second four-year term.
ROCSAT-2 SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED CNA 21 May 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian pushed a button during a teleconference Friday to activate a connection between the ROCSAT-2 satellite and Taiwan, marking the success of the launch and operations of Taiwan's second satellite.
ROCSAT-2 EXPECTED TO BE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED: NSC OFFICIAL CNA 20 May 2004 -- The Republic of China's second satellite -- ROCSAT-2 -- is expected to be successfully launched into orbit from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Thursday morning, a ranking official of the ROC Cabinet-level National Science Council (NSC) said Wednesday in California.
PRESIDENT VOWS TO LEAD TAIWAN DOWN 'MIDDLE ROAD' CNA 20 May 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Thursday after being sworn in for a second four-year term that stabilizing relations with mainland China will be a key goal of his new administration.
SCOPE OF CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM WON'T INCLUDE NATION'S STATUS: CHEN CNA 20 May 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Thursday in his inauguration speech that it is not appropriate to include the issues of sovereignty, territory and the subject of unification/ independence in the scope of his proposed constitutional reform.
PRESIDENT CHEN DOESN'T RULE OUT ANY POSSIBILITY FOR CROSS-STRAIT TIES CNA 20 May 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Thursday the two sides of the Taiwan Strait can seek to establish relations in any form whatsoever, so long as there is the consent of the 23 million people of Taiwan.
U.S. REJECTS BEIJING'S WARNINGS OF FORCE AGAINST TAIWAN CNA 20 May 2004 -- The White House on Wednesday bluntly refused to accept Beijing's threats of the use of force to resolve cross-Taiwan Strait differences made in a statement released Sunday.
PRESIDENT CHEN SWORN IN FOR SECOND TERM CNA 20 May 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian was formally sworn in Thursday for another four-year term.
U-S / TAIWAN REACT VOA 20 May 2004 -- The United States Thursday welcomed what it said was the constructive message of Taiwanese President Chen Shui-Bian's inaugural speech as he began a second term in office. A U-S official expressed hope the remarks will open the way to a new cross-strait dialogue between Taiwan and China.
TAIWAN PRESIDENT VOA 20 May 2004 -- Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has been sworn-in for his second term - pledging to improve tense relations with Communist China. In his inaugural address, Mr. Chen called for new thinking on both sides to resolve the longstanding dispute over Taiwan's status.
President Chen's Inaugural Speech 'Paving the Way for a Sustainable Taiwan' 20 May 2004 -- Chen: Today I would like to reaffirm the promises and principles set forth in my inaugural speech in 2000. Those commitments have been honored--they have not changed over the past four years, nor will they change in the next four years. Upon this foundation, my next step will be to invite both the governing and opposition parties, in conjunction with representatives from various walks of the society, to participate in the establishment of a "Committee for Cross-Strait Peace and Development," combining the collective insight and wisdom of all parties and our citizenry, to draft the "Guidelines for Cross-Strait Peace and Development." The goal will be to pave the way for formulating a new relationship of cross-strait peace, stability and sustainable development.
CHEN'S SPEECH TO FLESH OUT CROSS-STRAIT TIES, CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM CNA 19 May 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Wednesday that issues on relations between Taiwan and mainland China as well as constitutional reforms will form the bulk of the inaugural speech he will deliver on May 20.
BEIJING WILL NOT MAKE MILITARY MOVE AROUND MAY 20: MND CNA 19 May 2004 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) believes that mainland China will probably not take any military action to intimidate Taiwan around May 20, when President Chen Shui-bian will be sworn in for another four-year term, an MND official said Wednesday.
RECOUNT OF PRESIDENTIAL BALLOTS COMPLETED CNA 18 May 2004 -- The recount of the more-than 13 million ballots in the March 20 election was completed Tuesday after judges from the Panchiao District Court finised examining the last batch of ballots in Taipei County.
VICE PRESIDENT SEES SILVER LINING IN BEIJING'S LATEST STATEMENT CNA 18 May 2004 -- Vice President Annette Lu said optimistically Tuesday that she sees a silver lining in Beijing's latest statement on relations across the Taiwan Strait.
CROSS-STRAIT TRUST MECHANISM WOULD HELP EASE MILITARY TENSIONS: MND CNA 18 May 2004 -- The Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday a mechanism to build mutual trust between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait would make cross-strait military activities transparent and avoid unnecessary clashes and conflicts across the Taiwan Strait due to misunderstandings.
TAIWAN POLITICS VOA 19 May 2004 -- On the eve of the presidential inauguration - Taiwan's two main opposition parties have announced plans to merge after their defeat in still disputed elections.
TAIWAN CHINA VOA 18 May 2004 -- Taiwan's new top official handling China policy says the island is troubled by growing Chinese military strength, and will seek to ease tensions with the mainland. But he adds that further improvements depend mostly on decisions made in Beijing.
CHINA-TAIWAN VOA 17 May 2004 -- China is warning Taiwan it will crush any move toward independence thoroughly and at any cost. The warning comes as Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian prepares to deliver his inaugural speech this week.
PRESIDENTIAL AIDE CALLS FOR CROSS-STRAIT PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE CNA 17 May 2004 -- Deputy Secretary-General of the Presidential Office Joseph Wu called on both sides of the Taiwan Strait Monday to seek peaceful co-existence, claiming that peace is a cross-strait and international common language.
NO MAINLAND POLICY CHANGE OVER ANY PARTICULAR ISSUE: CABINET CNA 17 May 2004 -- The government will not deviate from its set policy with regard to relations with mainland China as a result of any single issue in particular, Executive Yuan spokesman Lin Chia-lung said Monday.
VOTE RECOUNT WILL NOT REVERSE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: DPP OFFICIAL CNA 17 May 2004 -- With the recount of the votes in the presidential election drawing to an end Monday, an official of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said it is almost certain that the recount will not reverse the results of the election.
LIEN CHAN: TAIWAN ISSUE CAN'T BE SOLVED BY A SINGLE STATEMENT CNA 17 May 2004 -- Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan played down the significance of Beijing's warning the previous day that it would brook no moves toward Taiwan independence, saying that the dispute between Taiwan and the mainland cannot be solved by a single statement.
BEIJING'S INTIMIDATING WORDS HURT TAIWAN PEOPLE'S FEELINGS: DPP CNA 17 May 2004 -- The legislative caucus of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said on Monday that mainland China's intimidating statement on its latest policy toward Taiwan has hurt the feelings of Taiwan people.
FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR TAIWAN'S STATUS CNA 17 May 2004 -- Minister of Foreign Affairs Tan Sun Chen said Monday Taiwan is a peace-loving country and that he hopes the international community can respect Taiwan's sovereign status.
MAC TEMPORARILY RESERVES COMMENT ON BEIJING'S ANNOUNCEMENT CNA 17 May 2004 -- The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) temporarily declined to comment Monday on Beijing's announcement at 1 a.m. via a Web site on its stance on the development of cross-Taiwan Strait relations.
MEMBERS OF U.S. DELEGATION TO PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION ANNOUNCED CNA 15 May 2004 -- The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) announced the names Friday of three members of a United States delegation that will attend President Chen Shui-bian's May 20 inauguration ceremony.
BALLISTIC TESTS ON SEIZED GUN INCONSISTENT WITH SPENT ROUND: CIB CNA 14 May 2004 -- Ballistic tests on a gun and bullets seized from two suspects in connection with the assassination attempt of President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu did not match bullets retrieved from the scene of the shooting on the eve of the March 20 presidential election, Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) experts said Friday.
POLICE ARREST SUSPECTS IN ELECTION-EVE SHOOTING CNA 14 May 2004 -- Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) officials said Friday that they will check if there is relevance between two suspects seized by Kaohsiung police and the shooting of President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu on the eve of the March 20 presidential election.
CROSS-STRAIT ISSUES SHOULD BE SETTLED PEACEFULLY: U.S. OFFICIAL CNA 13 May 2004 -- A senior U.S. State Department press officer on Wednesday reiterated Washington's stance that cross-Taiwan Strait issues should be settled through peaceful dialogue.
POLITICAL PARTIES CONDEMN BEIJING'S CALL FOR UNIFICATION LAW CNA 12 May 2004 -- Political parties across the political spectrum who seldom see eye to eye on anything condemned in chorus Wednesday Beijing's attempt to underline its territorial claim over Taiwan by enacting a unification law.
CEC TO PUSH FOR AMENDMENT TO PROHIBIT REFERENDUM-ELECTION TIE-UP CNA 12 May 2004 -- The Central Election Commission (CEC) is planning to push for an amendment to the Referendum Law to prohibit referendums from being held at the same time as major nationwide elections.
NEW DEFENSE MINISTER TO BOOST MILITARY EXCHANGES WITH U.S. CNA 11 May 2004 -- Incumbent Chief of General Staff Adm. Li Chieh will serve as defense minister in the new Cabinet, Cabinet spokesman Lin Chia-lung said Tuesday.
DEFENSE CHIEF SAYS MILITARY IS NEUTRAL AND NO COUP WAS PLANNED CNA 11 May 2004 -- Minister of National Defense Tang Yiau-min said on Tuesday that the military maintained administrative neutrality throughout during campaigning for the recent presidential election and that there was no coup d'etat in the works during the presidential campaign or any time afterward.
TAIWAN/VOTE COUNT VOA 10 May 2004 -- Officials in Taiwan have begun recounting votes in the island's extremely close presidential elections last March.
TAIWAN URGED TO COPE WITH RISING MAINLAND NAVAL THREAT CNA 09 May 2004 -- Taiwan should prepare response strategies in the face of mainland China's progress in navy modernization, a retired ROC Navy vice admiral said Sunday.
CROSS-STRAIT PEACE IN LINE WITH WASHINGTON, BEIJING, TAIPEI INTERESTS CNA 07 May 2004 -- The United States, mainland China and Taiwan share common interests in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the nation's top mainland China policy planner said Friday.
VICE PRESIDENT CALLS FOR PERSEVERANCE IN PUSHING FOR U.N. ENTRY CNA 07 May 2004 -- Vice President Annette Lu called on the public Friday to persevere and show firm determination in promoting the country's bid to join the United Nations.
CROSS-STRAIT STATUS QUO CONSENSUS OF TAIWAN PEOPLE: MAC CNA 07 May 2004 -- The notion that the status quo across the Taiwan Strait should remain unchanged is the consensus of the Taiwan people, Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman Chen Ming-tong claimed Friday.
BOTH SIDES OF TAIWAN STRAIT SHARE COMMON INTERESTS IN PEACEFUL TIES CNA 07 May 2004 -- Both sides of the Taiwan Strait, as well as the entire Asia-Pacific region, share common interests in peaceful cross-strait relations, a top official in charge of mainland China policy said Friday.
PRESIDENT WILL NOT TOUCH ON SOVEREIGNTY ISSUE IN INAUGURAL SPEECH CNA 06 May 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian will not touch on the Taiwan sovereignty issue when he mentions revisions to the Republic of China Constitution in his May 20 inaugural speech, an aide to the president said Thursday.
PRESIDENT COMMITTED TO ESTABLISHING STABLE CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS CNA 06 May 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian reaffirmed Thursday his commitment to establishing peaceful and stable cross-Taiwan Strait relations.
NO SIGN OF PLA NAVY ENDANGERING TAIWAN STRAIT SECURITY: MND CNA 05 May 2004 -- There have been no signs that eight Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warships, which have just completed a port call in Hong Kong, pose any immediate threat to Taiwan, Ministry of National Defense (MND) officials said Wednesday.
BEIJING SHOULD ACCEPT ROC'S EXISTENCE: MAC OFFICIAL CNA 05 May 2004 -- Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Vice Chairman Chen Ming-tong called on Beijing authorities to accept pragmatically the existence of the Republic of China in order to create a new era for substantial exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
CHEN TO WORK FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF CROSS-STRAIT INTERACTIVE MECHANISM CNA 04 May 2004 -- A senior Taiwan mainland affairs official said Sunday in Los Angeles that President Chen Shui-bian and his administration will do their utmost to establish a peaceful interactive mechanism between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
M'LAND CHINESE WARSHIPS IN HONG KONG A SHOW OF NAVAL MIGHT: MND CNA 04 May 2004 -- Mainland China sent eight warships to Hong Kong to display its naval might, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday.
COMBAT ALERT NOT TO BE RAISED FOR PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION CNA 04 May 2004 -- The military will not raise the level of combat alert on May 20 when President Chen Shui-bian will be sworn in for a second four-year term, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Tuesday.
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE DENIES AMMUNITION STOLEN CNA 04 May 2004 -- There has been no ammunition, including rocket-propelled grenades, stolen from the armed forces and resold, although an army sergeant was found to be involved in an illegal weapons-selling ring busted Tuesday in southern Taiwan, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of National Defense (MND).
SECURITY BUREAU FULLY AWARE OF CROSS-STRAIT SITUATIONS: NSB CHIEF CNA 03 May 2004 -- The Ministry of National Defense has constantly updated its contingency measures to ensure security in the Taiwan Strait and the National Security Bureau (NSB) is fully informed of all aspects of potential moves by mainland China, a top security officer said Monday.
DEFENSE MINISTRY DEBUNKS MEDIA CLAIMS ON ELECTION-DAY TROOP STRENGTH CNA 02 May 2004 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) debunked a newspaper report Sunday that "somebody" had ordered an increase in the number of troops kept on duty on the March 20 presidential election day.
DEFENSE MINISTRY DENIES TOP BRASSES OFFER TO RESIGN AFTER ELECTION CNA 01 May 2004 -- The Ministry of National Defense on Saturday denied a newspaper report that Chief of the General Staff Gen. Li Chieh and three of his deputies offered to resign after the March 20 presidential election.
PRESIDENT'S AIDE DENIES REPORT ABOUT ENVOYS TO BEIJING CNA 01 May 2004 -- An aide to President Chen Shui-bian dismissed as "groundless" Saturday a report by Singapore newspaper the Straits Times that the president has tried to reach out to Beijing by offering to send envoys there to negotiate the contents of Chen's inaugural speech.
April
TAIWAN'S NATIONALISM ESTABLISHED: VICE PRESIDENT LU CNA 29 Apr 2004 -- Vice President Annette Lu said Friday that the results of the March 20 presidential election represented evidence that Taiwan's nationalism has been established.
MILITARY COUP WOULD BE OUT OF THE QUESTION: DEFENSE MINISTER CNA 30 Apr 2004 -- The armed forces are loyal to the country and have high morale, so there is no question of a coup, Minister of National Defense Tang Yiau-min was quoted as saying Friday.
MILITARY MUM ON REPORT ABOUT INTELLIGENCE WAR WITH BEIJING IN UKRAINE CNA 30 Apr 2004 -- The Military Intelligence Bureau (MIB) of the Ministry of National Defense declined to make any comment Friday on a media report that intelligence agents from the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have engaged in a fierce intelligence war in Ukraine.
NEW FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER OUTLINES DIPLOMATIC PROGRAM CNA 29 Apr 2004 -- New Minister of Foreign Affairs Tan Sun Chen said Thursday that he will promote diplomatic works based on the principles of pragmatism and flexibility, hoping to reflect Taiwan's rising national identity in an international context.
KMT WON'T ADMIT FAILURE IN ELECTION BEFORE TRUTH IS OUT: KMT OFFICIAL CNA 28 Apr 2004 -- The Kuomintang (KMT) won't admit failure in the March 20 presidential election before the truth is out, said a KMT official Wednesday.
TAIWAN SHOULD EASE U.S. CONCERN OVER NEW CONSTITUTION: MOFA CNA 27 Apr 2004 -- Taiwan should do its best to assuage U.S. concern over its plan to craft a new constitution in 2006, and try hard to address both national and U.S. interests while engaging in the issue, Foreign Affairs Minister Tan Sun Chen said Tuesday.
DEFENSE MINISTRY DENIES COUP ALLEGATIONS CNA 27 Apr 2004 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) insisted Tuesday that the military remained politically neutral throughout the election period and that the so-called "coup" issue is non-existent in the military.
MOFA HAILS TRA CONTRIBUTION TO CROSS-STRAIT STABILITY CNA 26 Apr 2004 -- Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Hwang hailed Monday the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) as the major stabilizer to security across the Taiwan Strait over the past 25 years.
U.S. SUPPORT FOR NEW TAIWAN CONSTITUTION HAS LIMITATIONS: AIT OFFICIAL CNA 26 Apr 2004 -- There are limitations to the United States' support for Taiwan's plan to change the Constitution, an official of the American Institution in Taiwan (AIT) said Tuesday.
BEIJING SHOULD NOT DISTORT TAIWAN'S DEMOCRATIC REFORMS: SPOKESMAN CNA 22 Apr 2004 -- Mainland China should not distort Taiwan's moves to deepen and consolidate its young democracy and paint them as steps toward de jure independence, Cabinet spokesman Lin Chia-lung said Thursday.
PRESIDENT CHEN VOWS TO MAKE TAIWAN NUCLEAR-FREE ISLAND CNA 22 Apr 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian reaffirmed his commitment Thursday to building Taiwan into a "nuclear-free, green-silicon island."
NEW CONSTITUTION PLAN NOT INDEPENDENCE TIMETABLE: PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE CNA 22 Apr 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian's plan to write a new constitution for Taiwan in 2006 is part of his efforts to deepen and consolidate Taiwan's young democracy, Presidential Office spokesman James Huang said Thursday.
TAIWAN APPRECIATES U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES' SUPPORT CNA 22 Apr 2004 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Thursday expressed its appreciation for the United States House of Representatives' support for Taiwan's bid to enter into the World Health Organization (WHO).
U.S. HOPES EARLY RESUMPTION OF CROSS-STRAIT DIALOGUE: U.S. OFFICIAL CNA 22 Apr 2004 -- The United States hopes that both sides of the Taiwan Strait begin formal talks again soon, although it will not force Taiwan to go to the negotiating table, a U.S. official said Wednesday.
KMT URGES PRESIDENT CHEN TO HEED U.S. WARNING ON INDEPENDENCE CNA 22 Apr 2004 -- The legislative caucus of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) urged President Chen Shui-bian Thursday to heed the latest U.S. warning against Taiwan pursuing de jure independence.
U-S / TAIWAN VOA 21 Apr 2004 -- Top Bush administration officials are stressing that the 25-year-old U-S law known as the "Taiwan Relations Act" has been instrumental in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. They spoke today (Wednesday) at a hearing of the House of Representatives International Relations committee.
MILITARY LAUNCHES ANNUAL HAN KUANG EXERCISES CNA 20 Apr 2004 -- The military has launched routine annual training exercises to evaluate the nation's defense capabilities in the face of mainland China's mounting military threat, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Tuesday.
FORMER NAVY CHIEF ACQUITTED OF SHIELDING CORRUPT SUBORDINATES CNA 20 Apr 2004 -- The former commander-in-chief of the navy, retired Adm. Yeh Chang-tung, who was indicted for smothering a case of corruption on the part of two junior officers during his term as navy chief, was acquitted Tuesday of the charge of shielding corrupt subordinates.
DEFENSE MINISTRY WILL ACT ACCORDINGLY ON VIETNAM TOURISTS TO SPRATLYS CNA 20 Apr 2004 -- The Ministry of National Defense will act in line with the government's policy regarding the Vietnamese government's sending tourists to the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, an defense ministry spokesman said Tuesday.
IMPROVING U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS A TOP PRIORITY: VICE PRESIDENT LU CNA 20 Apr 2004 -- Vice President Annette Lu said Tuesday that one of the key priorities of the government will be to strengthen bilateral relations with the United States.
MAINLAND CHINESE 'EMPIRE' WILL COLLAPSE SOONER OR LATER: PRESIDENT CNA 20 Apr 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian quoted a long-time China-hand from the United States Tuesday, saying that Communist China, a reproduction of an ancient Chinese imperial dynasties, will collapse sooner or later.
TAIWAN'S NATIONALISM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED: VICE PRESIDENT CNA 19 Apr 2004 -- Vice President Annette Lu said Monday that the results of the March 20 presidential election have established Taiwan nationalism.
NEW FOREIGN MINISTER OUTLINES VISION, AGENDA CNA 16 Apr 2004 -- New Foreign Affairs Minister Chen Tan-sun said Friday he will uphold "three insistences" in performing his duty as the nation's diplomatic chief.
CHENEY'S REMARKS SHOW NO CHANGE IN U.S. CROSS-STRAIT POLICY CNA 16 Apr 2004 -- An official of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Friday that there has been no change in the United States' cross-Taiwan Strait policy.
MAC CLOSELY MONITORING REPORTED BEIJING SPY CRACKDOWN CNA 16 Apr 2004 -- The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) will closely monitor developments in a reported new mainland Chinese crackdown on Taiwan espionage activities in mainland China, a senior official said Friday.
U.S. HAS NO INTENTION TO AMEND TRA: STATE DEPARTMENT CNA 16 Apr 2004 -- A senior U.S. State Department press officer on Thursday reiterated that the U.S. government has no intention of amending the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) despite Beijing's requests that the act be abolished.
INTELLIGENCE UNIT MUM OVER REPORTS ABOUT BEIJING SPY CRACKDOWN CNA 15 Apr 2004 -- The Military Intelligence Bureau (MIB) stayed buttoned up Thursday amid reports from Hong Kong that Beijing cracked down on a Taiwan spy ring before the March 20 presidential election, arresting several officers of the People's Liberation Army.
MOFA URGES ROC CITIZENS TO AVOID IRAQ OVER SECURITY CONCERNS CNA 15 Apr 2004 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has issued a travel advisory against Iraq because of the mounting insurgency there, a senior MOFA official said Thursday. "Iraq has been listed as a highly dangerous area in which to travel, " MOFA's West Asian Affairs Department Deputy Director Lin Chin-chung said, adding that local people should not travel to Iraq for the time being.
CHENEY-ASIA VOA 15 Apr 2004 -- U-S Vice President Dick Cheney concluded his visit to China Thursday with a warning about North Korea's nuclear weapons program and a reaffirmation of Washington's long-standing policy on Taiwan
CHINA/TAIWAN VOA 14 Apr 2004 -- China is lashing out at Taiwan's president for advocating a new constitution for the island, which Beijing claims is a veiled timetable for independence. China's warning comes as Vice President Dick Cheney is in Beijing, discussing Taiwan with Chinese officials.
FORMER SECURITY OFFICIAL DENIES LEAKING SECRETS TO MAINLAND CHINA CNA 13 Apr 2004 -- A retired senior officer from the National Security Bureau (NSB) claimed Tuesday that he went to work in mainland China because he did not know he was forbidden by law from visiting the mainland even after retirement, but he added that would be prepared to subject himself to investigation to prove he did not leak classified information to the mainland authorities.
AIR FORCE PILOTS FORCED TO LAND F-5F ON BELLY CNA 13 Apr 2004 -- The pilot and co-pilot of an ROC Air Force F-5F jet fighter were forced to land their plane on its belly Tuesday morning at an air base in central Taiwan when the plane's landing gear failed to open, the Air Force General Headquarters reported.
'TRUTH COMMITTEE' MAY BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL: PRESIDENT CNA 12 Apr 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Monday that the opposition camp's demand to set up what it calls a "truth committee" under the legislature to probe the March 19 shooting of the president might be unconstitutional and issued a reminder that Taiwan is a country ruled by law.
ELECTION DISPUTES RELATED TO FLAWED MEDIA REPORTING: PRESIDENT CNA 12 Apr 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian claimed Monday that the disputes over his re-election victory are related to flawed reporting by some electronic news media during the vote-counting procedure.
LIEN SAYS HE WILL NOT SHUN ELECTION RESPONSIBILITIES CNA 12 Apr 2004 -- Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan pledged Monday that he will assume full responsibility for his part in the March 20 presidential election as soon as all the facts concerning the disputed election have been clarified.
PRESIDENT CHEN VOWS TO ADDRESS ETHNIC DIVISION ISSUE CNA 12 Apr 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Monday he and his ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will reflect on their presidential campaign strategy and consider how to narrow political and ethnic divisions.
TAIWAN-SITIUATION REPORT VOA 12 Apr 2004 -- Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian says political divisions in the aftermath of last month's disputed presidential elections have brought the island into crisis. His remarks followed violent anti-government protests.
PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT SUFFERED GUNSHOT WOUNDS: FORENSICS EXPERT CNA 11 Apr 2004 -- A renowned forensics expert invited to Taiwan to help investigate the March 19 presidential election-eve shooting of President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu said Sunday that they did indeed suffer gunshot wounds.
State Department Marks 25th Anniversary of Taiwan Relations Act Washington File 09 Apr 2004 -- The U.S. Department of State issued a statement April 9 marking the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). The TRA was signed into law by then President Jimmy Carter on April 10, 1979, to define U.S. government policy toward Taiwan following U.S. recognition of the People's Republic of China.
HENRY LEE EXAMINES PRESIDENT'S WOUND, LOOKING FOR HINT TO SHOOTING CNA 09 Apr 2004 -- Dr. Henry Lee, a Chinese-American frensic expert asked to help Taiwan invesitgators to look into the March 19 shooting of President Chen Shui-bian said Friday he would share with the public his findings at a news conference before he leave for the United States on Sunday, as long as it wouldn't hamper the investigation.
PRESIDENT TO REAFFIRM CROSS-STRAIT PEACE, STABILITY IN INAUGURATION CNA 09 Apr 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian will say that he is dedicated to the pursuit of cross-Taiwan Strait stability in his May 20 inauguration speech, a Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) official said Friday.
PRESIDENT'S CROSS-STRAIT POLICY REMARKS OPTIMISTIC: MAC CNA 08 Apr 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian's recent remarks on deciding on a candidate to be stationed in mainland China before his May 20 inauguration are full of optimism, the nation's top mainland China policy planner said Thursday.
ROCSAT-2 TO HELP IN NATURAL DISASTER CONTROL MISSION CNA 08 Apr 2004 -- The National Space Program Office (NSPO) and the Natural Disaster Center under National Chengkung University (NCU) forged a joint venture Thursday on the prevention of natural and environmental hazards by using images that will be captured by a Taiwanese satellite.
CROSS-STRAIT LINKS MAY BE EASIER IN NEXT TWO YEARS: OFFICIAL CNA 07 Apr 2004 -- The two sides of the Taiwan Strait are expected to handle more actively issues with regard to the opening of direct cross-strait transportation, trade and postal services links in the next two years, making the so-called direct " three links" easier, a government official said Wednesday.
REFERENDUM SHOWS WILL OF THE PEOPLE: OFFICIAL CNA 07 Apr 2004 -- Examination Yuan President Yao Chia-wen claimed Wednesday that Taiwan's first nationwide referendum "reflects clearly" the Taiwan people's position regarding the military threat from mainland China.
U-S / TAIWAN ENVOY VOA 07 Apr 2004 -- The State Department said Wednesday that the head of the de-facto U-S diplomatic mission in Taiwan, Therese Shaheen, has resigned. But a spokesman denied she was pushed out in response to Chinese calls for her ouster.
PRESIDENT HOPES U.S. WILL PLAY BIGGER ROLE IN CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS CNA 05 Apr 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian expressed hope Monday that the United States will play a more active role as a "peace envoy" between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to help build a bridge of friendship across the strait.
REVISIONS IN TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT A U.S. ISSUE: FOREIGN MINISTER CNA 05 Apr 2004 -- It is up to the United States whether or not the 25-year-old Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) should be revised, Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien said Monday.
TAIWAN FIRM SANCTIONED BY U.S. FOR IGNORING TRADE EMBARGO ON IRAN CNA 03 Apr 2004 -- A firm in Taiwan has been sanctioned by the United States for violating an embargo against Iran by selling it items forbidden by the United States, the State Department reported Friday.
ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN AIMED AT ENCOURAGING GOOD CROSS-STRAIT TIES CNA 03 Apr 2004 -- A senior U.S. defense official said Friday that the United States' arms sales to Taiwan are conducted in accordance with a longstanding policy.
COURT OPENS HEARING IN LAWSUIT TO NULLIFY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CNA 02 Apr 2004 -- The Taiwan High Court opened its first hearing Friday on the country's first lawsuit seeking to nullify the March 20 presidential election.
THREE SUSPECTS INDICTED ON CHARGES OF SPYING FOR MAINLAND CHINA CNA 02 Apr 2004 -- Three men, including a middle-ranking technician with the military-run Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CIST) , were indicted Friday on charges of spying for mainland China.
PRESIDENT TO MAKE NEW PROPOSAL ON CROSS-STRAIT TIES IN INAUGURATION CNA 02 Apr 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian said in an interview published by a major Japanese daily Friday that he will make a new proposal on cross-Taiwan Strait relations in his May 20 inauguration.
U.S. FIRM ABOUT FULFILLING OBLIGATIONS TO TAIWAN: STATE DEP'T CNA 02 Apr 2004 -- A U.S. State Department press officer reiterated Thursday that the United States still stands firm in fulfilling its obligations to help Taiwan meet its legitimate self-defense needs under the provisions of the Taiwan Relations Act.
TAIWAN / POLITICS VOA 02 Apr 2004 -- Taiwan's high court has begun hearings on the main opposition party's petition for a recount in the island's presidential elections last month.
MISSILE COMMAND INAUGURATED CNA 01 Apr 2004 -- A new missile command was inaugurated Thursday under the Ministry of National Defense (MND), according to a statement released that day by the MND.
INTERIOR MINISTER INSISTS ON ROC SOVEREIGNTY OVER SPRATLY ISLANDS CNA 01 Apr 2004 -- Minister of the Interior Yu Cheng-hsien reiterated Thursday the Republic of China's sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and said that his ministry is willing to help the Foreign Ministry handle disputes surrounding the coral reef island group in the South China Sea.
U.S. APPROVES SALES OF LONG-RANGE EARLY WARNING RADAR TO TAIWAN CNA 01 Apr 2004 -- The Pentagon has notified the U.S. Congress of the sale to Taiwan of two long-range early warning radar systems capable of detecting ballistic and cruise missiles, even though the Legislative Yuan has only approved the budget for one of the items.
DEFENSE MINISTRY DENIES DEVELOPING OFFENSIVE MISSILES CNA 01 Apr 2004 -- A spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense (MNA) denied Thursday that the country is developing mid-range missiles capable of hitting targets in mainland China.
NO IMMEDIATE MILITARY CRISIS IN TAIWAN STRAIT: U.S. ADMIRAL CNA 01 Apr 2004 -- The United States has been closely monitoring the situation in the Taiwan Strait and there are no signs of an immediate military crisis there, according to Adm. Thomas B. Fargo, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command.
CHINA-U-S TAIWAN VOA 01 Apr 2004 -- China is accusing the United States of breaking promises it made more than three decades ago to recognize Beijing as the only legitimate government of China. The accusation came as Chinese officials called on Washington to stop selling weapons to Taiwan.
March
NSC CONFIDENT OF SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF NATION'S SECOND SATELLITE CNA 31 Mar 2004 -- An official of the Cabinet-level National Science Council (NSC) on Wednesday said he was confident that the nation's second satellite, ROCSAT-2, would be successfully launched on April 10 Taipei time from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
CONSTITUTIONAL INTERPRETATION OF NATIONAL SECURITY MECHANISM DEMANDED CNA 31 Mar 2004 -- The opposition camp will file a compliant with the Council of Grand Justices to demand a constitutional interpretation of the disputed launch of the national security mechanism following the attempted assassination of President Chen Shui-bian, which it claims markedly affected the outcome of the March 20 presidential poll.
MAC OFFICIAL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT POST-ELECTION CROSS-STRAIT TIES CNA 31 Mar 2004 -- A senior Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) official said Wednesday that he is optimistic about cross-Taiwan Strait relations in the wake of Taiwan's fiercely fought presidential election.
BEIJING HOLDS THE KEY TO RECONCILIATION: MAC OFFICIALS CNA 31 Mar 2004 -- Beijing holds the key to whether the two sides of the Taiwan Strait can appoint representatives from each side in efforts to seek peace and stability across the strait, a Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) official said Wednesday.
TAIWAN POL VOA 31 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan's High Court says it will start hearing a petition for a recount later this week, but the opposition says it will demand new elections.
TAIWAN ELECTION: CHEN'S 'RAZOR-THIN' WIN HIGHLIGHTS 'POLARIZATION' US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 30 Mar 2004
Private U.S. Experts Helping Investigate March 19 Taiwan Shooting Washington File 30 Mar 2004 -- Following are the texts of a question, taken at the March 29 regular State Department briefing, on U.S. assistance with the investigation of the recent shooting of President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu of Taiwan, and the State Department's answer, released later in the day.
U-S-China-Taiwan VOA 30 Mar 2004 -- The United States says it expects Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian to hold to long-standing pledges not to upset the status-quo with China. The newly-reelected Taiwanese leader has told interviewers he considers the island independent from China and that he will press ahead with a drive for a new constitution.
U.S. EXPERTS: REPORT ON MARCH 19 SHOOTING TO BE READY BY MID-APRIL CNA 30 Mar 2004 -- Three U.S. forensic experts invited to Taiwan to look into the March 19 shooting of President Chen Shui-bian said Tuesday that they will have completed their report on the incident by mid-April.
NO NEED FOR TAIWAN TO DECLARE INDEPENDENCE: EX-PRESIDENT CNA 30 Mar 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian's March 20 re-election reflects the fact that awareness of a "Taiwan identity" has been cemented among the Taiwan people and that there is no need for the Taiwan government to declare independence, a Japanese daily newspaper quoted former President Lee Teng-hui as saying.
REFERENDUM NOT A FLOP: PRESIDENT CNA 30 Mar 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian said in an interview with the Washington Post Monday that Taiwan's first referendum, held alongside the March 20 presidential election, was not a flop, even though it failed to pass the 50 percent threshold require to make it valid.
PROSECUTOR CONFIDENT OF SOLVING ELECTION-EVE SHOOTING CASE CNA 30 Mar 2004 -- Law enforcement authorities are confident that they can solve the presidential election-eve shooting of President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu, a chief prosecutor of the State Public Prosecutor General's Office of the Supreme Court said Tuesday.
U.S. NEWSPAPER REPORTS WRONGLY ON CHEN STATEMENT: PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE CNA 30 Mar 2004 -- The Presidential Office said Tuesday that Washington Post reporters have misinterpreted President Chen Shui-bian's remarks on his basic stance on relations with mainland China during his second term.
VOTE RECOUNT EXPECTED TO BEGIN SOON: PRESIDENTIAL AIDE CNA 30 Mar 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian's letter of consent to allow for an immediate and across-the-board recount of ballots cast in the March 20 presidential election is expected to be delivered to the Taiwan Hight Court soon, a presidential aide disclosed Tuesday.
PRESIDENT CHEN OUTLINES FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR SECOND TERM CNA 30 Mar 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian Tuesday outlined solidarity, cross-Taiwan Strait stability, law and order and economic prosperity as the four principles to rule the country during his second term in the coming four years.
INVALIDITY OF REFERENDUM WILL NOT AFFECT TAIWAN'S ARMS PURCHASES CNA 30 Mar 2004 -- Though the first nationwide referendum in Taiwan was not considered valid because the participation threshold of 50 percent was not achieved, it will not affect arms purchases between Taiwan and the United States, Chen Chien-jen, the Republic of China's Representative to the United States, said Monday.
TAIWAN POLITICS VOA 30 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan is moving closer toward resolving its bitter post-election dispute as the island's top court starts deliberating on the opposition's petition challenging President Chen Shui-bian's narrow re-election.
LINES DRAWN OVER FORMATION OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE CNA 29 Mar 2004 -- A battle line was drawn between the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the "pan-blue alliance" of the two main opposition parties, the Kuomintang (KMT) and the People First Party (PFP) over the opposition's demand for a special committee to investigate the March 19 shooting of President Chen Shui-bian.
NOTHING SUSPICIOUS ABOUT SHOOTING: U.S. SPECIALISTS CNA 29 Mar 2004 -- Three specialists who came to Taiwan from the United States to help investigate the election-eve shooting of President Chen Shui-bian said Monday that there is nothing suspicious about the shooting judging from the information they had collected so far.
SECURITY MECHANISM DID NOT AFFECT ELECTION: OFFICIAL CNA 29 Mar 2004 -- The activation of the national security mechanism March 19 did not affect the presidential election held the following day, the top aide to President Chen Shui-bian claimed Monday.
PRESIDENT TO DELIVER ON PROMISE OF FULL BALLOT RECOUNT CNA 29 Mar 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian will deliver on his promise to a full recount of the votes cast in the March 20 presidential election, Secretary-General of the Presidential Office Chiou I-jen said Monday.
U.S. EXPERTS IN TAIWAN TO HELP INVESTIGATE ELECTION-EVE SHOOTING CNA 29 Mar 2004 -- Three U.S. criminal investigation specialists have arrived in Taipei to help investigate the election-eve assassination attempt on President Chen Shui-bian, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) reported Monday.
TAIWAN/POLITICS VOA 29 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan authorities are taking steps to resolve turmoil over this month's presidential election, with the president agreeing to endorse an opposition lawsuit calling for a vote recount. Officials also set in motion an investigation into the controversial shooting of the island's president and vice president.
PRESIDENT AGREES TO IMMEDIATELY RECOUNT ELECTION VOTES CNA 28 Mar 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian reiterated his agreement Saturday on an immediate recount of votes of the March 20 presidential election.
DPP CALLS FOR SETTLEMENT OF ELECTION DISPUTES BY JUDICIAL MEANS CNA 27 Mar 2004 -- The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) reiterated its appeal Saturday to settle disputes regarding the March 20 presidential election through judicial channels.
KMT CHIEF URGES PRESIDENT TO RESPOND TO 'PAN-BLUE ALLIANCE' APPEALS CNA 27 Mar 2004 -- Opposition Kuomintang Chairman Lien Chan demanded again Saturday that President Chen Shui-bian give a positive response to the "pan-blue alliance's" three appeals -- an immediate recount of votes, formation of a task force in charge of the March 19 shooting and allowing re-voting by soldiers and police officers barred from casting their ballots due to the activation of the national security mechanism following the shooting.
TAIWAN/PROTEST VOA 27 Mar 2004 -- Demonstrators jammed Taiwan's capital Saturday to protest the results of the disputed presidential election. And China criticized the United States for congratulating President Chen Shui-bian after he was declared the winner.
U-S-TAIWAN ELECTION VOA 26 Mar 2004 -- The United States Friday congratulated Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian after he was declared the winner of last Saturday's disputed election on the island. The Bush administration urged calm as the expected legal challenges of the vote-count go forward.
TECHNICIAN WORKING FOR ROC MILITARY INDICTED FOR SELLING SECRETS CNA 26 Mar 2004 -- A technician working at the military-run Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology was indicted Friday for leaking military secrets to mainland China and Egypt.
CEC ANNOUNCES RE-ELECTION OF PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT CNA 26 Mar 2004 -- The Central Election Commission (CEC) formally announced the re-election of President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Friday evening.
CEC TO FORMALLY ANNOUNCE 2004 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WINNER CNA 26 Mar 2004 -- The Central Election Commission (CEC) is expected to formally announce the winner of the March 2004 presidential election later Friday after it convenes a members meeting to finish reviewing the election's procedures and related affairs, according to CEC officials.
TAIWAN/POLITICS VOA 26 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan's legislators are working out a compromise law to allow a recount in Saturday's presidential election, decided by a margin of less than one percentage point. Protests over the election results have delayed the expected declaration of President Chen Shui-bian as the official winner of the election.
TAIWAN ELECTION VOA 25 Mar 2004 -- Many American newspapers are commenting on Taiwan's recent and -- some would say -- bizarre presidential election. Just one day before last Saturday's [3-20] balloting, President Chen Shui-bian was shot and wounded while campaigning. His vice president, Annette Lu was also slightly wounded.
DPP SECRETARY-GENERAL RULES OUT NEW ELECTION CNA 25 Mar 2004 -- Unless the Taiwan High Court determines that the just-concluded presidential election is null and void, there is no question of holding a new election, ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary-general Chang Chun-hsiung said Thursday.
LINKING SHOOTING TO CHEN'S RE-ELECTION VICTORY UNFAIR: DPP CNA 25 Mar 2004 -- The legislative caucus of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) dismissed as "unfair and not factual" Thursday the opposition "pan-blue alliance's" allegation that the mysterious election-eve shooting of President Chen Shui-bian was the main reason behind his re-election victory.
PRESIDENT TO PRIORITIZE TAIWAN UNIFICATION, STABLE CROSS-STRAIT TIES CNA 25 Mar 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Thursday that unifying Taiwan, stabilizing cross-Taiwan Strait relations, promoting constitutional reform and reinvigorating the economy will top his work agenda for the coming four years.
U-S / TAIWAN VOA 24 Mar 2004 -- As Taiwan moves toward a recount in its disputed presidential election, several experts in the United States say they believe -- if the current results are certified, and President Chen Shui-bian is, indeed, re-elected -- cross-strait relations are likely to become more tense.
HOLDING ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION TAIWAN PEOPLE'S NIGHTMARE CNA 24 Mar 2004 -- It would be a nightmare for the people of Taiwan if another presidential election were held to replace the one just completed, an aide to President Chen Shui-bian said Wednesday.
REFERENDUM ACT WILL BE REVISED: PREMIER CNA 24 Mar 2004 -- Premier Yu Shyi-kun directed the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) Wednesday to bring forward a draft amendment to the Referendum Act to the Executive Yuan for approval within a month.
LIEN RESOLVES TO SEEK TRUTH, WILL NOT EVADE RESPONSIBILITIES: AIDE CNA 24 Mar 2004 -- Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan appealed Wednesday for solidarity among the opposition "pan-blue alliance" and vowed to dig out "the truth" regarding the disputed March 20 presidential poll and the gunshot suffered by President Chen Shui-bian on the eve of polling day.
COURT REJECTS LIEN'S ELECTION ANNULMENT LAWSUIT CNA 24 Mar 2004 -- The Taiwan High Court rejected opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan's lawsuit Wednesday seeking an annulment of last Saturday's presidential election.
PREMIER OUTLINES FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR VOTE RECOUNT CNA 24 Mar 2004 -- Premier Yu Shyi-kun said Wednesday that a recount of votes cast in the March 20 presidential election will be conducted under the principles of "exactness, impartiality, transparency and legitimacy."
NO WAY FOR RECOUNT OTHER THAN LAW REVISION: CABINET CNA 24 Mar 2004 -- The quickest and only way to solve the controversy in the wake of Saturday's presidential election is to revise the relevant law to allow for a ballot recount, a Cabinet spokesman said Wednesday.
TAIWAN POLITICS VOA 24 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan's ruling and opposition parties have agreed on the legal framework for a recount of votes from Saturday's extremely close election. Opposition street protests continue in advance of the recount.
TAIWAN POLITICS VOA 23 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan's president says he will not oppose opposition demands for a recount of Saturday's election, which he won narrowly. A proposed new law mandating such a recount does not satisfy the opposition's complaints.
DEFENSE MINISTER'S RESIGNATION TENDER NOT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED CNA 22 Mar 2004 -- Premier Yu Shyi-kun said Monday that Minister of National Defense Tang Yiau-min's decision to tender his resignation is due to personal health rather than politics, but added that he has agreed to stay in the post at the premier's behest.
PREMIER URGES QUICK RESPONSE TO DEMANDS FROM PROTESTERS CNA 22 Mar 2004 -- Premier Yu Shyi-kun urged the Judicial Yuan Monday to respond as soon as possible to demands from "pan-blue alliance" protesters for a recount of the ballots from Saturday's presidential election.
MND TO SUIT ARMS PROCUREMENT PROJECTS TO NATIONAL DEMAND CNA 22 Mar 2004 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) will come up with arms procurement projects best suited to the nation's defense needs, Vice Defense Minister Lin Chong-pin said Monday.
ACTIVATION OF NATIONAL SECURITY MECHANISM DID NOT AFFECT VOTE: MND CNA 22 Mar 2004 -- Vice Minister of National Defense Lin Chong-pin stressed Monday that the activation of the mechanism to ensure national security following the attack on President Chen Shui-bian Friday had not affected the voting rights of military personnel the following day.
PROSECUTION AUTHORITIES TO ACTIVELY HANDLE ELECTION DISPUTES CNA 22 Mar 2004 -- Officials from the State Public Prosecutor General's office will actively handle election disputes and related affairs in order to help clear up any doubts surrounding Saturday's presidential election, the head of the office said Monday.
TAIWAN POLITICS VOA 22 Mar 2004 -- Supporters of Taiwan's losing presidential candidate vow to continue street protests until their accusations of election fraud are addressed.
BEIJING SHOULD ACCEPT INCREASING TAIWAN CONSCIOUSNESS: DPP LAWMAKER CNA 21 Mar 2004 -- Beijing should face and accept the increasing Taiwan-centric consciousness in Taiwan society, a lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said Sunday.
TAIWAN'S DEMOCRACY MOVES FORWARD FOLLOWING REFERENDUM: OFFICIAL CNA 21 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan has taken another step forward on its road to democracy by holding its first nationwide referendum, even though the two referendum questions failed to pass the threshold to be considered valid, Presidential Office Secretary-General Chiou I-jen said Sunday.
TAIWAN'S MAINLAND CHINA POLICY TO REMAIN UNCHANGED: MAC OFFICIAL CNA 21 Mar 2004 -- The key tone of Taiwan's mainland China policy is expected to remain unchanged over the next four years with President Chen Shui-bian continuing to lead the country, a Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) official said Sunday.
HIGH COURT RULES FREEZE OF ELECTION BALLOTS CNA 21 Mar 2004 -- The Taiwan High Court ruled Sunday morning that all presidential election ballots being held by the election authorities in 25 cities and counties nationwide should be frozen until controversy over the election results has been cleared up.
PRESIDENT URGES BEIJING TO ACCEPT TAIWAN PEOPLE'S DECISION CNA 21 Mar 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian urged Beijing Saturday to accept Taiwan people's democratic decision and to view the presidential election result from a positive perspective.
TAIWAN ELECTION VOA 21 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan's High Court has ordered ballots and other documents from Saturday's presidential election sealed, amid a bitter dispute over the result. Protests have broken out around the island questioning the incumbent president's victory.
TAIWAN/ELECTION/RESULTS VOA 20 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan's president, Chen Shui-bian, has won re-election by an extremely narrow margin, one day after surviving an apparent assassination attempt. But Taiwan's High Court has ordered the sealing of ballot boxes following his opponent challenged of the results.
U.S. Congratulates People of Taiwan on Election Washington File 20 Mar 2004 -- The United States congratulates the people of Taiwan for conducting a democratic campaign and exercising their voting rights, according to a statement issued by Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli.
TAIWAN/ELECTION/RESULTS VOA 20 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan's president, Chen Shui-bian, has won re-election by an extremely narrow margin, one day after surviving an apparent assassination attempt. But his opponent is challenging the results.
LIEN SAYS RESULTS OF ELECTION UNFAIR, VOWS TO CHALLENGE DECISION CNA 20 Mar 2004 -- Kuomintang Chairman Lien Chan, who trailed President Chen Shui-bian in the presidential election by a razor-thin margin, questioned the fairness of the March 20 election, and said he will file a lawsuit to declare the election results invalid.
SUIT SEEKING TO INVALIDATE ELECTION MUST BE FILED WITHIN 15 DAYS: CEC CNA 20 Mar 2004 -- The Central Election Commission (CEC) said Saturday that any lawsuits seeking to invalidate the presidential election result should be filed within 15 days after the CEC publishes the result of the election.
OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE REFUSES TO CONCEDE DEFEAT CNA 20 Mar 2004 -- The opposition "pan-blue alliance's" presidential candidate announced Saturday that he will file a lawsuit to declare the just-concluded presidential election invalid because he felt it was unfair.
PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN WINS RE-ELECTION WITH TENACITY CNA 20 Mar 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian has won his re-election bid with tenacity in an uphill battle which saw him close a wide gap and then win by a slim margin.
PRESIDENT CHEN VOWS TO LIVE UP TO PEOPLE'S MANDATE CNA 20 Mar 2004 -- Calling his victory in the presidential election Saturday a victory for all the people, President Chen Shui-bian said this is the beginning of a new era, and vowed to live up to the mandate given to him by the people in his second term.
TAIWAN POLLS OPEN VOA 20 Mar 2004 -- Voters In Taiwan are electing a president, despite an apparent assassination attempt against the island's leader.
Taiwan Elections VOA 19 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian and his vice president, Annette Lu were shot and slightly wounded in an apparent assassination attempt on Friday. The shooting took place while the President and Vice President were out campaigning on the eve of an election that could bring a turning point in Taiwan's tense relationship with China. Voters go to the polls on Saturday to choose between their pro-independence incumbent President Chen Shui-bian and his opponent, Nationalist Party leader, Lien Chan as their new President.
U.S. Condemns Shooting of President, Vice-President of Taiwan Washington File 19 Mar 2004 -- The United States strongly condemns the March 19 shooting of President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu of Taiwan, Deputy State Department Spokesman Adam Ereli said March 19.
White House Condemns March 19 Attack in Taiwan Washington File 19 Mar 2004 -- The United States condemns the March 19 attack on President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu of Taiwan, according to a White House statement issued March 19.
TAIWAN CHEN ATTACK VOA 19 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan's president says he is feeling good, despite being wounded in an apparent assassination attempt, one day before the island's presidential election. The incident is likely to have a major impact on what has been a very close race.
NO SPECIAL DEPLOYMENT OF MAINLAND TROOPS OBSERVED: DEFENSE MINISTER CNA 19 Mar 2004 -- There have been no special movements of communist Chinese troops based in mainland China's southeastern coastal regions and the Republic of China military is fully prepared to tackle all possible scenarios, Minister of National Defense Tang Yiau-min said Friday.
TAIWAN CHEN VOA 19 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan's president is said to be in stable condition after being shot the day before the island's presidential election. Taiwan's government says voting will take place as scheduled Saturday, despite the assassination attempt.
TAIWAN-REFERENDUM VOA 19 Mar 2004 -- The referendum pushed by Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian is at the root of much of the controversy surrounding Saturday's elections. The decision to hold the plebiscite raised tensions with China and provoked a bitter debate on the island.
TAIWAN ELECTIONS VOA 19 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan's two presidential candidates are spending the day before the election on a whirlwind marathon of rallies around the island.
TAIWAN/CHEN VOA 19 Mar 2004 -- Both of Taiwan's main political parties have suspended campaign activity, following a failed assassination attempt against President Chen Shui-bian. His office says Saturday's election will go forward as scheduled. Voters are to choose between giving Mr. Chen another term or electing his Nationalist rival, Lien Chan.
DEFENSE MINISTRY CONVENES URGENT MEETING TO DISCUSS SECURITY Central News Agency 19 Mar 2004-- The Ministry of National Defense convened an emergency meeting after President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu were shot and injured during canvassing in Tainan, southern Taiwan Friday afternoon.
PRESIDENT TREATED, FULLY CONSCIOUS: HOSPITAL Central News Agency 19 Mar 2004-- President Chen Shui-bian was reported Friday evening to be in stable condition and in no danger after being treated following an attack during an election campaign activity in Tainan City earlier the same day, hospital authorities said Thursday.
PRESIDENT CHEN LEAVES HOSPITAL TO RETURN TO TAIPEI Central News Agency 19 Mar 2004-- President Chen Shui-bian left Chi Mei Medical Center in Tainan at 7: 10 p.m. after surviving an assassinate attempt earlier in the day in Tainan City during campaigning in an open car. He was treated for a flesh wound in his abdomen apparently sustained from a gun shot.
PROSECUTORS LOOKS INTO SHOOTINGS OF PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT Central News Agency 19 Mar 2004-- Two prosecutors were assigned to investigate the shootings of President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu Friday, Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan said in Taipei.
PRESIDENT STOPS ELECTION CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES Central News Agency 19 Mar 2004-- The campaign headquarters of President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu announced Friday afternoon that all campaign activities on the eve of the presidential election have been halted.
PREMIER ASSURES NORMAL OPERATION OF ADMINISTRATION Central News Agency 19 Mar 2004-- Premier Yu Shyi-kun assured the public Friday that the administration is operating normally after President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu were shot and injured in an apparent assassination attempt during canvassing in Tainan, southern Taiwan earlier that day.
OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE STOPS CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES Central News Agency 19 Mar 2004-- Opposition presidential candidate Lien Chan condemned violence Friday afternoon after President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu were shot and injured during canvassing in Tainan, southern Taiwan.
OPENING 3 DIRECT CROSS-STRAIT LINKS IS GOVERNMENT POLICY: MAC CNA 18 Mar 2004 -- The opening of direct cross-Taiwan Strait links -- trade, transportation and postal services -- is a government policy, Taiwan's top mainland policy planner said Thursday.
VICE PRESIDENT: CHINA HAS NO HOLD OVER TAIWAN CNA 18 Mar 2004 -- Vice President Annette Lu said Thursday she is not surprised that Beijing has refrained from trying to influence Taiwan's presidential election this time because "whatever it does, it can't stop Taiwan from pursuing democracy."
MAC CHIEF CALLS FOR RESUMPTION OF CROSS-STRAIT TALKS CNA 18 Mar 2004 -- Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen called on Beijing Thursday to resume the long-stalled talks between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait after the March 20 presidential election.
PRESIDENT CHEN KEEPS PITCHING FOR REFERENDUM IN ONLINE NEWSPAPER CNA 18 Mar 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian said in his weekly online newspaper Thursday that the March 20 referendum is significant for history, democracy, peace and uniting the country.
TAIWAN-LIEN CHAN VOA 18 Mar 2004 -- The opposition candidate in Taiwan's presidential elections, Lien Chan, believes in taking a conciliatory approach to China - a stance that has won him both praise from the business community and the ire of pro-independence voters.
TAIWAN REFERENDUM VOA 18 Mar 2004 -- China has reiterated its opposition to a referendum being held in Taiwan Saturday alongside Presidential elections. Beijing says the vote's outcome could encourage the island to become independent and destabilize relations.
LIEN HOPES TO MAKE 'DIGNIFIED JOURNEY OF PEACE' TO MAINLAND CHINA CNA 17 Mar 2004 -- The opposition "pan-blue alliance" presidential candidate said Wednesday that if he wins this weekend's hotly contested election, he hopes to make a "journey of peace" to mainland China before he formally takes office May 20.
TAIWAN-NATIONAL IDENTITY VOA 17 Mar 2004 -- The push for a separate identity has become the central issue in the run-up to Saturday's national elections in Taiwan, where polls have indicated growing support on the island for eventual independence from China.
Overseas Taiwanese Voters VOA 16 Mar 2004 -- As Taiwan gears up for hotly-contested presidential elections Saturday, polls show a very tight race. Not wanting to be left out, overseas Taiwanese are showing their active interest in events on an island often thousands of kilometers away -- by returning either to cast their ballots or at least show support for their chosen candidate.
ROC PROTESTS AGAINST CHINA-FRANCE JOINT NAVAL EXERCISE CNA 16 Mar 2004 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) lodged a strong protest to France and mainland China Tuesday for their ongoing large-scale joint naval exercise that coincides with Taiwan's presidential race.
MILITARY ON FULL ALERT AHEAD OF PRESIDENTIAL POLL: MND CNA 16 Mar 2004 -- The military has heightened its alert in the run-up to the March 20 presidential election and Taiwan's first nationwide referendum to be held simultaneously, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Tuesday.
TAIWAN-U.S. RELATIONS UNCHANGED DESPITE DIFFERENCE OVER REFERENDUM CNA 16 Mar 2004 -- Although the United States has its own view of Taiwan holding its first nationwide referendum in tandem with the March 20 presidential election, this does not mean that there is a change in basic Taiwan-U.S. relations, a top campaign aide for President Chen Shui-bian said Tuesday.
CHEN WILL ADDRESS CROSS-STRAIT DEADLOCK IF RE-ELECTED: AIDE CNA 16 Mar 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian will address the cross-Taiwan Strait political deadlock in a wiser and more pragmatic manner if re-elected, Chen's top aide said Tuesday.
AVENGER SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES DEPLOYED IN TAIPEI: MND CNA 16 Mar 2004 -- The Ministry of National Defense confirmed Tuesday that a number of Avenger surface-to-air missiles have been deployed in Taipei City and around the greater Taipei area since late last year.
MND PLAYS DOWN CHINA-FRANCE NAVAL EXERCISE CNA 16 Mar 2004 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) played down a rare mainland Chinese-French joint naval exercise Tuesday, saying it is mainly to practice maritime emergency search and rescue skills.
TAIWAN/CHEN VOA 16 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian is in the final week of a pitched battle to retain his job. Taiwan voters choose Saturday between Mr. Chen and Nationalist rival Lien Chan.
NSB BRIEFS PRESIDENTIAL CHALLENGER ON SECURITY AFFAIRS CNA 15 Mar 2004 -- The National Security Bureau (NSB), the nation's top intelligence agency, briefed the opposition "pan-blue alliance's" presidential and vice presidential candidates Monday on Taiwan's current national security situation.
TAIWAN REFERENDUM NONE OF BEIJING'S BUSINESS: MA CNA 15 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan's holding of a referendum is none of Beijing's business, and mainland Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao should not interfere in Taiwan's internal affairs, Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou said Monday.
CROSS-STRAIT TIES BECOME FOCUS OF REFERENDUM DEBATE CNA 14 Mar 2004 -- Cross-Taiwan Strait relations became the focus of the final round of 10 referendum debates Sunday, which pitted the nation's top mainland policy planner against a sharp-tongued independent lawmaker.
PRESIDENT CHEN SAYS REFERENDUM SUCCESS MORE IMPORTANT THAN RE-ELECTION CNA 14 Mar 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Sunday the success of Taiwan's first-ever nationwide referendum to be held alongside the March 20 presidential election is far more meaningful than his re-election.
PRESIDENT CHEN VOWS TO PUSH FOR NEW CONSTITUTION IF RE-ELECTED CNA 14 Mar 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Sunday that if he is re-elected, he will push for a new constitution to better substantiate the fact that Taiwan is a genuine democracy and that the people are the real leaders of the country when it comes to enacting the nation's fundamental laws.
PRESIDENT VOWS NO WAR, PROMISES TO BE CROSS-STRAIT PEACEMAKER CNA 13 Mar 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian vowed Saturday to be a peacemaker between Taiwan and mainland China and predicted that there will be no war between the two sides if he succeeds in his re-election bid on March 20.
TAIWAN MUST STICK TO SOVEREIGNTY TO FACE GLOBALIZATION CNA 13 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan must stick to its own indigenous sovereignty in order to ride over the many challenges brought by globalization, Vice President Annette Lu said Saturday.
PRESIDENT PROMISES TO DEVELOP TIES WITH BEIJING WITH PARITY CNA 11 Mar 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian promised to develop ties with Beijing on the basis of parity in his weekly online newspaper.
TWO MEN INDICTED FOR SPYING FOR BEIJING CNA 11 Mar 2004 -- A former civilian worker of the Military Intelligence Bureau (MIB) was indicted Thursday by prosecutors for spying for Beijing, along with another civilian MIB worker who was accused of helping him.
TAIWAN MONITORING BEIJING'S ROLE IN TALKS ABOUT NORTH KOREA: OFFICIAL CNA 11 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan is keeping a close eye on just-concluded multiparty talks over North Korea's nuclear program in Beijing, worried that Beijing's emergence as a leading player in the talks will give it extra diplomatic leverage against Washington and Tokyo, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Thursday.
PROS, CONS EXCHANGED IN DEBATE ON PURCHASE OF ANTI-MISSILE EQUIPMENT CNA 10 Mar 2004 -- Two debaters expressed their pros and cons in a televised debate Wednesday over the question of Taiwan's anti-missile military procurement, one of the two questions to be raised in a referendum planned for March 20 to coincide with the presidential election.
TAIPOWER URGES PYONGYANG TO OFFER WORLD-STANDARD NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP CNA 10 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) said Wednesday that North Korea should provide it with an exclusive nuclear waste dump in line with international requirements to facilitate the enforcement of a radioactive waste disposal contract between the company and Pyongyang.
POWELL REITERATES U.S. CROSS-STRAIT POLICY TO BEIJING OFFICIAL CNA 10 Mar 2004 -- U. S. Secretary of State Colin Powell reiterated Washington's stance Tuesday to a visiting Beijing official that the United States opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.
PRESIDENT WANTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO CEMENTING NATION'S IDENTITY CNA 09 Mar 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Tuesday that he is treading the right path and he hopes to achieve five goals, including contributing to the solidifying of the nation's identity, if he is elected for a second term.
TAIWAN WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR WHO ENTRY EVERY YEAR: MOFA CNA 09 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan will continue to push to join the World Health Organization (WHO) every year, an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday.
DELINKING MILITARY AND POLITICS GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: PRESIDENT CHEN CNA 09 Mar 2004 -- ROC President Chen Shui-bian said Tuesday that eliminating political influence in the military, which was common in the previous Kuomintang (KMT) administration, has been the greatest achievement in his political career as head of state.
M'LAND USING INTRICATE MEANS TO TRY TO INFLUENCE TAIWAN ELECTION: CHEN CNA 09 Mar 2004 -- Beijing has always tried to influence Taiwan's presidential elections and has used even more intricate means to try do so this time around, including interfering via third countries, President Chen Shui-bian said Tuesday.
KMT CHIEF ADVOCATES CROSS-STRAIT STATUS QUO CNA 08 Mar 2004 -- Opposition presidential candidate Lien Chan said in a recent interview with Time magazine that his camp believes in maintaining the status quo in regard to relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
`N0 MEANS' TO DO WIDESPREAD ILLEGAL TELEPHONE BUGGING: MIB CNA 08 Mar 2004 -- The Military Intelligence Bureau (MIB) has neither the means, nor the necessity, nor the nerve to illegally bug 80 percent of the telephone conversations made in Taiwan, a senior MIB officer said Monday.
PRESIDENT CHEN APPEALS TO VOTERS WITH SIX PROMISES CNA 05 Mar 2004 -- President Chen Shui-bian appealed to voters in a televised presentation of presidential candidates' political views Saturday with six promises and listed four issues as top priorities should he win re-election.
AEGIS-EQUIPPED WARSHIPS SALES TO TAIWAN UNDER CONSIDERATION: PENTAGON CNA 05 Mar 2004 -- A U.S. Defense Department spokesman said Friday that a newspaper was incorrect when it reported that the Pentagon has agreed to sell warships equipped with the advanced Aegis radar system to Taiwan.
DEFENSE MINISTRY REFUSES TO COMMENT ON REPORTED U.S. ARMS SALES CNA 05 Mar 2004 -- Ministry of National Defense spokesman Maj. Gen. Huang Suey-sheng refused to comment Friday on a newspaper report that the U.S. Department of Defense has agreed to sell warships equipped with the advanced Aegis radar system to Taiwan.
FOREIGN MINISTER URGES FOREIGN FRIENDS CNA 05 Mar 2004 -- Foreign Affairs Minister Eugene Chien urged foreign friends Friday to support the Republic of China's campaign against mainland China's missile threat and its pursuit of peace in the Taiwan Strait.
LU URGES FREE WORLD NOT TO TOLERATE CHINA'S MISSILES AIMED AT TAIWAN CNA 05 Mar 2004 -- Vice President Annette Lu on Friday said that Taiwan will continue to play an indispensable role in defending peace and democracy in the future and urged the free world not to tolerate mainland Chinese missiles aimed at Taiwan.
U.S. WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN EARLY RESUMPTION CNA 05 Mar 2004 -- A senior U.S. State Department official said Thursday that whoever wins Taiwan's presidential election, Washington would like to see an early resumption to talks between Taipei and Beijing, according to a report by Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV.
U.S. EXPECTED TO LAUD TAIWAN'S DEMOCRACY AFTER ELECTION: ROC ENVOY CNA 04 Mar 2004 -- The Republic of China's top official in the United States said Wednesday that he predicts the Bush administration will make a statement praising Taiwan's democracy after the March 20 presidential election.
TAIWAN TO PURCHASE SIX PATRIOT PAC-3 MISSILE BATTERIES: MND CNA 03 Mar 2004 -- Taiwan will purchase six Patriot PAC-3 missile batteries from the United States under a 10-year weaponry system procurement plan, a high ranking Ministry of National Defense (MND) official said Wednesday.
AIR FORCE VOWS TO IMPROVE AIR BASE SECURITY CNA 02 Mar 2004 -- The Air Force General Headquarters (AFGH) said Tuesday it will conduct an overall review of security measures at various air bases and make necessary improvements.
ARMS PURCHASES FOR NATIONAL SECURITY: PREMIER CNA 02 Mar 2004 -- Premier Yu Shyi-kun said Tuesday that the government's planned arms purchases are not for an arms race but for national security.
MOFA TO INVITE FOREIGN PUNDITS TO OBSERVE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CNA 02 Mar 2004 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday it is inviting foreign pundits and journalists to come to Taiwan to see for themselves the Republic of China's March 20 presidential election.
LAST INDIGENOUS FRIGATE ORDERED BY NAVY TO BE DELIVERED CNA 01 Mar 2004 -- The last of eight high-speed missile frigates ordered by the navy will be delivered March 9, a China Shipbuilding Corp. (CSBC) official said Monday in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan.
BEIJING MIGHT USE BALLISTIC MISSILES TO ATTACK TAIWAN: MAGAZINE CNA 01 Mar 2004 -- Mainland China has deployed three or four ballistic missile brigades in its coastal provinces targeting Taiwan, according to the latest quarterly on national defense policies issued by the Taipei-based Society for Strategic Studies.
SPECIAL TASK FORCE TO BE FORMED TO REVIEW MILITARY SERVICE SYSTEM CNA 01 Mar 2004 -- The Cabinet has directed the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) to form a joint task force to push for improvements to the nation's military service system, Vice Defense Minister Chen Ti-tuan said Monday.
TAIWAN-U.S. TIES WILL NOT CHANGE AFTER PRESIDENTIAL EL

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

2004 Taiwan Special Weapons News