News of the Week (Sept.6-12, 2007)

News of the Week
(Sept. 6-12, 2007)

1.US President George W. Bush met with PRC President Hu Jintao on Sept. 6 during the APEC Summit for bilateral talks. After the meeting, Hu indicated that Bush had reiterated US opposition to any unilateral change of the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. PRC officials later said Hu told Bush that the next two years would be a time of “high danger” for Taiwan. President Bush, however, did not utter any word over the Taiwan issue in the press conference after the meeting with Hu.

2.On Sept. 6, China Times ran a report saying, “DPP Presidential candidate Frank Hsieh has suggested that the DPP and the KMT combine their UN plebiscite proposals.” In response to Hsieh’s remarks, KMT Presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou said, “The KMT’s UN plebiscite proposal is more moderate and pragmatic than the DPP’s, and would not create distrust among our allies.”

3.President Chen, on September 10, pointed out that the plebiscite on pursuing the KMT party assets “will be held on January 12 next year along with the legislative elections,” adding that the plebiscite on joining the UN under the name Taiwan and the Presidential election “will take place on March 22 next year.” The KMT Secretary-General Wu Den-yih said that, in response to the DPP’s strategy, the KMT proposed two plebiscites on “ anti-corruption and demanding the return of state assets” and “returning to the UN”, respectively. The KMT would not allow the DPP to just do anything they wanted, he added.

4.The KMT Presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou on September 10 said, “President Chen has created two ‘Taiwan miracles’. The first miracle is that the head of state directly puts the Central Election Commission under his command. The second miracle is that the Central Election Commission serves a political party. Facing such circumstances, the Central Election Commission should be legalized through legislation as soon as possible.” Ma also said he was heartbroken that the ruling party expended all its efforts on the DPP version of UN plebiscite, while ignoring the daily hardships of the common people.

5.On September 6, Jiang Xiaoyu, executive vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the XXIX Olympic Games, announced the route for the Olympic Torch Relay with 22 en-route cities outside the People’s Republic of China. He specifically emphasized, “Taipei is to be regarded as one of the 22 cities.” However, on September 7, before Thomas Chen-wei Tsai, president of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, left for Beijing to sign an agreement, the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee received a letter from the BOCOG informing officials that displays of the national flag, the national emblem, and the national anthem of the Republic of China would not be permitted during the Olympic Torch Relay en route through Taipei. Only the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee flag, emblem, and anthem would be permitted to be displayed, the letter added.

6.In response to the demands by the BOCOG, KMT Presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou said, “Beijing's demand is unreasonable and unfeasible. The Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee must stand firm on its position. The Olympic model applies only to the participatory countries and athletes, not to the spectators. The government should respond to Beijing’s demand appropriately so as not to tarnish Taiwan’s dignity.” He went on to say, “If the Olympic Torch really comes to Taiwan, I will definitely welcome it with the national flag.”

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