Taipei, May 30 (CNA) Young businessmen from various Asian countries attended an Asia-Pacific city conference Wednesday for discussions on the theme of "peace, the environment and the economy.
Representatives from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and the Philippines attended the Asian Pacific International City Conference (APICC), organized by Junior Chamber International (JCI).
The discussion centered around the topics of urban youth policy, reusable energy and employment creation in the 21st Century, seeking to exchange experiences of various Asian cities and present ideas and solutions for governments from the perspective of young businessmen, said Peter Pan, chairman of the APICC Special Committee.
The creativity and energy of the younger generation is an integral contribution to the development of any great city and a great city also helps young people develop their ideas, said Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin.
Three keynote speeches were delivered at the one-day conference, by Examination Yuan President Yao Chia-wen, Legislator Tien Chiu-chin and Dickens Chen, secretary-general of the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
VAC LAUNCHES EMPLOYMENT SERVICE PROGRAM TO HELP FOREIGN SPOUSES
Taipei, May 29 (CNA) A country-wide employment service program to help foreign spouses find jobs was launched by the Veterans Affairs Commission (VAC) Tuesday in Taipei.
The program will be held all over Taiwan to help foreign spouses married to veterans to find jobs, said VAC Minister Hu Cheng-pu, who added that it provides services such as free counseling, employment matchmaking and career-planning classes.
The VAC, which is in charge of the affairs and welfare of military veterans, has now expanded its service to veterans' family members, Hu said.
According to VAC statistics, more than 31,000 veterans are married to foreign spouses. The number accounts for more than 12 percent of the foreign spouses in the country, of whom more than 85 percent come from China.
As most of the foreign spouses of veterans are middle aged or elderly, they are underprivileged and are at a disadvantage in the human resources market, which is why they need help from a government agency, Hu said.
In 2006, 5,253 veterans and members of their family were employed with the help of the VAC service program.
The program will be held all over Taiwan to help foreign spouses married to veterans to find jobs, said VAC Minister Hu Cheng-pu, who added that it provides services such as free counseling, employment matchmaking and career-planning classes.
The VAC, which is in charge of the affairs and welfare of military veterans, has now expanded its service to veterans' family members, Hu said.
According to VAC statistics, more than 31,000 veterans are married to foreign spouses. The number accounts for more than 12 percent of the foreign spouses in the country, of whom more than 85 percent come from China.
As most of the foreign spouses of veterans are middle aged or elderly, they are underprivileged and are at a disadvantage in the human resources market, which is why they need help from a government agency, Hu said.
In 2006, 5,253 veterans and members of their family were employed with the help of the VAC service program.
TAIWANESE SHOULD SHOW MORE COMPASSION FOR TIBET: CIVIC GROUP
Taipei, May 29 (CNA) Taiwanese people should understand Tibet more and show more compassion to the region that like Taiwan has also been oppressed by China for decades, a civic group said Tuesday.
The people of Taiwan can do more than just participate in a prayer day and a march from 228 Memorial Park to Ximending June 3, said a Taiwan Tibet Exchange Association (TTEF) researcher who preferred to remain anonymous.
TTEF is the main organizer of "The Prayer Day for World Peace and Human Rights in Tibet, " a serial multinational event that was launched in Bangkok, Thailand May 27 and includes stops in Cambodia, Taiwan, Japan, India and Mongolia.
"One thing we can learn from Tibet is that, as much oppression as Taiwan had experienced from China, there have been many minority people in China suffering from the same oppression, " the researcher said.
"We should feel fortunate for our economic prosperity and political development in Taiwan. We can elect our own national leader. These are things that the Tibetans don't have, " she said.
"And the Tibetans haven't given up on fighting for freedom and independence. Some overseas Tibetan refugees could have been living luxurious lives in the West, given their financial status and educational background, but they are still devoting all their energy and life to the movement, " she claimed.
"That kind of effort and persistence should be recognized by the people of Taiwan and deserves our attention and support, " she added.
Taiwanese should also show the sympathy and empathy to Tibet from the perspective of human rights, because the Chinese government has not restrained its cultural, economic, political and religious control and oppression of Tibet 40 years after the Cultural Revolution, she said.
Other civic groups and volunteers in Taiwan have started taking action to help Tibet, such as the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund, she said.
The people of Taiwan can do more than just participate in a prayer day and a march from 228 Memorial Park to Ximending June 3, said a Taiwan Tibet Exchange Association (TTEF) researcher who preferred to remain anonymous.
TTEF is the main organizer of "The Prayer Day for World Peace and Human Rights in Tibet, " a serial multinational event that was launched in Bangkok, Thailand May 27 and includes stops in Cambodia, Taiwan, Japan, India and Mongolia.
"One thing we can learn from Tibet is that, as much oppression as Taiwan had experienced from China, there have been many minority people in China suffering from the same oppression, " the researcher said.
"We should feel fortunate for our economic prosperity and political development in Taiwan. We can elect our own national leader. These are things that the Tibetans don't have, " she said.
"And the Tibetans haven't given up on fighting for freedom and independence. Some overseas Tibetan refugees could have been living luxurious lives in the West, given their financial status and educational background, but they are still devoting all their energy and life to the movement, " she claimed.
"That kind of effort and persistence should be recognized by the people of Taiwan and deserves our attention and support, " she added.
Taiwanese should also show the sympathy and empathy to Tibet from the perspective of human rights, because the Chinese government has not restrained its cultural, economic, political and religious control and oppression of Tibet 40 years after the Cultural Revolution, she said.
Other civic groups and volunteers in Taiwan have started taking action to help Tibet, such as the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund, she said.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
TAIWANESE PITCHER TO BE FEATURED ON U.S. SPORTS CHANNEL
Taipei, May 28 (CNA) Taiwan-born pitcher Wang Chien-ming, who plays for the New York Yankees in the U.S. Major League, will be featured on U.S. sports channel ESPN in mid-June in two clips that introduce Wang's baseball career as well as promoting Taiwan tourist attractions, ESPN Taiwan announced Monday.
ESPN will air the two two-minute clips under the title "Wang Chien-ming: Taiwan's Glory" in North America. A complete 10-clip series will be broadcast every Tuesday and Thursday in Taiwan starting May 29, ESPN Taiwan said.
The feature, which contains interviews with Wang, his coaches and teammates in Taiwan and the Yankees, will be aired during "Baseball Tonight, " one of the most popular baseball programs in North America, ESPN Taiwan Vice General Manager Jiang Yi-fang said.
Wang, who had a brilliant second season with the Yankees last year with 19 wins and 4 losses and ranked second in American League Cy Young award voting, tells how he first started playing in elementary school by "accident" and described his experience as a batboy during professional baseball games played in his hometown of Tainan as a junior high school student.
Coaches and teammates of Wang's early career also talk about Wang's persistence and hard work.
U.S. viewers will also be able to see many tourist attractions in Taiwan, such as the 101 building and nightmarkets, making the NT$ 10 million project sponsored by the Tourism Bureau worthwhile, according to Tourism Bureau Director-General Janice Lai.
Around 92.28 million households in the U.S. are expected to watch the clips, she said.
ESPN will air the two two-minute clips under the title "Wang Chien-ming: Taiwan's Glory" in North America. A complete 10-clip series will be broadcast every Tuesday and Thursday in Taiwan starting May 29, ESPN Taiwan said.
The feature, which contains interviews with Wang, his coaches and teammates in Taiwan and the Yankees, will be aired during "Baseball Tonight, " one of the most popular baseball programs in North America, ESPN Taiwan Vice General Manager Jiang Yi-fang said.
Wang, who had a brilliant second season with the Yankees last year with 19 wins and 4 losses and ranked second in American League Cy Young award voting, tells how he first started playing in elementary school by "accident" and described his experience as a batboy during professional baseball games played in his hometown of Tainan as a junior high school student.
Coaches and teammates of Wang's early career also talk about Wang's persistence and hard work.
U.S. viewers will also be able to see many tourist attractions in Taiwan, such as the 101 building and nightmarkets, making the NT$ 10 million project sponsored by the Tourism Bureau worthwhile, according to Tourism Bureau Director-General Janice Lai.
Around 92.28 million households in the U.S. are expected to watch the clips, she said.
JAPAN'S YONAGUNI ISLAND TO SET UP BRANCH OFFICE IN HUALIEN
Taipei, May 28 (CNA) Yonaguni Island of Japan's Okinawa Prefecture will set up a branch office in the eastern Taiwan city of Hualien Tuesday with the goal of improving the island's ties with its sister city on all fronts and facilitating more cooperation, Yonaguni city officials said Monday in a press conference in Taipei.
Yonaguni Island, Japan's westernmost point at the end of the Ryukyu Islands chain, lies only 111 km east of Hualien and had extensive exchanges with Hualien before World War II. As Taiwan was no longer a Japan territory after the war, exchanges between both sides became limited.
It became the first Japanese city and the second Japanese local government to set up a branch office in Taiwan, following Okinawa Prefecture, which has established an office in Taipei City.
"As an outlying island, we have been dealing with difficulties in local development for many years. Japan has entered an age of `decentralization' as each local autonomy is required to develop identity, self governance and creativity for its own prosperity, " Yonaguni Mayor Hokama Syukichi said.
Hokama said Yonaguni seeks to boost its cooperation with Hualien due to their proximity.
Hokama led a delegation including City Council Speaker Sakihara Sonkichi, Deputy Speaker Maenisihara Takezou, three councilors and office staff that will attend the inauguration ceremony Tuesday.
Hokama and Hualien Mayor Tsai Chi-ta signed a cooperation agreement in October last year in which both sides agreed to collaborate on economic exchanges, tourism promotion and emergency relief. The most important aspect for the 1,700 residents of the island will be direct flights, shipping lines and fishing cooperation, Hokama said.
"On sunny days, you can see Taiwan's coastline from Yonaguni Island, " said Ma Chuan-sheng, an 82-year-old Hualien native who volunteered to help with the exchange project. By improving mutual cooperation, Ma said, Yonaguni residents will be able to check into hospitals in Hualien in emergencies.
In April 2005, the Yonaguni city council passed a resolution stating that the island sought to devote itself to its own development by more cooperation with neighboring countries such as Taiwan.
Later, when its plan to set up a "national border exchange special zone" was rejected by the Japanese government, more radical solutions were discussed by locals, including declaring independence, pushing the island into the limelight.
The Japanese government has since softened its stance by agreeing to provide needed help in the exchange project, Hokama added.
Yonaguni Island, Japan's westernmost point at the end of the Ryukyu Islands chain, lies only 111 km east of Hualien and had extensive exchanges with Hualien before World War II. As Taiwan was no longer a Japan territory after the war, exchanges between both sides became limited.
It became the first Japanese city and the second Japanese local government to set up a branch office in Taiwan, following Okinawa Prefecture, which has established an office in Taipei City.
"As an outlying island, we have been dealing with difficulties in local development for many years. Japan has entered an age of `decentralization' as each local autonomy is required to develop identity, self governance and creativity for its own prosperity, " Yonaguni Mayor Hokama Syukichi said.
Hokama said Yonaguni seeks to boost its cooperation with Hualien due to their proximity.
Hokama led a delegation including City Council Speaker Sakihara Sonkichi, Deputy Speaker Maenisihara Takezou, three councilors and office staff that will attend the inauguration ceremony Tuesday.
Hokama and Hualien Mayor Tsai Chi-ta signed a cooperation agreement in October last year in which both sides agreed to collaborate on economic exchanges, tourism promotion and emergency relief. The most important aspect for the 1,700 residents of the island will be direct flights, shipping lines and fishing cooperation, Hokama said.
"On sunny days, you can see Taiwan's coastline from Yonaguni Island, " said Ma Chuan-sheng, an 82-year-old Hualien native who volunteered to help with the exchange project. By improving mutual cooperation, Ma said, Yonaguni residents will be able to check into hospitals in Hualien in emergencies.
In April 2005, the Yonaguni city council passed a resolution stating that the island sought to devote itself to its own development by more cooperation with neighboring countries such as Taiwan.
Later, when its plan to set up a "national border exchange special zone" was rejected by the Japanese government, more radical solutions were discussed by locals, including declaring independence, pushing the island into the limelight.
The Japanese government has since softened its stance by agreeing to provide needed help in the exchange project, Hokama added.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
LEGISLATIVE SPEAKER, ACADEMIA DISCUSSED MIXED ELECTORAL SYSTEM
Taipei, May 26 (CNA) With a new mixed electoral system being adopted in Taiwan's forthcoming legislative election, Legislative Yuan speaker Wang Jing-pyng and academia from Taiwan, Japan and South Korea offered various views on the system in a symposium Saturday.
The impact of the new system remain to be seen, but the election reform has been the consensus of all parties and there is no turning back, said Wang in "International Symposium on Mixed Electoral Systems in East Asia, " which was organized by Election Study Center of National Chengchi University.
It is sometimes difficult -- and not too difficult at the same time -- to imagine what a different electoral system would impact the political scene, said Yoshiaki Kobayashi, a professor at Japan's Keio University, in a keynote speech.
Citing the U.S. 2000 presidential election as an example, Kobayashi said that if Al Gore, who garnered more popular votes but less electoral votes than the eventual winner George Bush, was elected the U.S. president, a reasonable speculation was that the world political scene and the way U.S. countered terrorism after the 911
attack would have been different.
The new "single-member districts, two vote system" is expected to change the legislative "ecology" and possibly Taiwan's politics, although there is no telling that it will be a change of good or bad, Wang said.
It is generally agreed that the mixed electoral system Japan and Taiwan adopted favors a two-party politics and will facilitate political debate, said Kobayashi, who also serves as the president of Japan Political Science Association.
However, 10 years after Japan adopted the new system, the results have been mixed as some legislators didn't think the mixed voting system helpful, Kobayashi said.
"One thing is sure after the system change, which is that the legislators have to spend more time in their respective district because that is where the votes came from, " Wang said.
Spending more time in local districts is both good and bad, Wang elaborated, as attendance record of legislators may drop dramatically in future legislative session.
Professors from Taiwan, Japan and South Korea submitted theses in the one-day symposium and discussed on a wide range of issues including the impact of electoral system change, the review of Taiwan's redistricting, changes and continuity in voting behavior after the electoral system change.
The impact of the new system remain to be seen, but the election reform has been the consensus of all parties and there is no turning back, said Wang in "International Symposium on Mixed Electoral Systems in East Asia, " which was organized by Election Study Center of National Chengchi University.
It is sometimes difficult -- and not too difficult at the same time -- to imagine what a different electoral system would impact the political scene, said Yoshiaki Kobayashi, a professor at Japan's Keio University, in a keynote speech.
Citing the U.S. 2000 presidential election as an example, Kobayashi said that if Al Gore, who garnered more popular votes but less electoral votes than the eventual winner George Bush, was elected the U.S. president, a reasonable speculation was that the world political scene and the way U.S. countered terrorism after the 911
attack would have been different.
The new "single-member districts, two vote system" is expected to change the legislative "ecology" and possibly Taiwan's politics, although there is no telling that it will be a change of good or bad, Wang said.
It is generally agreed that the mixed electoral system Japan and Taiwan adopted favors a two-party politics and will facilitate political debate, said Kobayashi, who also serves as the president of Japan Political Science Association.
However, 10 years after Japan adopted the new system, the results have been mixed as some legislators didn't think the mixed voting system helpful, Kobayashi said.
"One thing is sure after the system change, which is that the legislators have to spend more time in their respective district because that is where the votes came from, " Wang said.
Spending more time in local districts is both good and bad, Wang elaborated, as attendance record of legislators may drop dramatically in future legislative session.
Professors from Taiwan, Japan and South Korea submitted theses in the one-day symposium and discussed on a wide range of issues including the impact of electoral system change, the review of Taiwan's redistricting, changes and continuity in voting behavior after the electoral system change.
Friday, May 25, 2007
PESSIMISM ON TAIWAN'S FUTURE `UNNECESSARY': WRITER
Taipei, May 24 (CNA) A pro-independence Taiwanese writer claimed Thursday that the general pessimism held by many Taiwanese on Taiwan's future is "unnecessary" and 2008 will be an important year for Taiwan as well as for many other countries around the globe.
"Overall, Taiwan is not doing as badly as some local media have described and China is not doing as well as they have said. There is no need to panic and be pessimistic about Taiwan's future, " claimed Ko Bunyu, a Taiwanese writer who is also known as Huang Wen-hsiung and lives in Japan.
Ko addressed his views of Taiwan's future in a three-stage rationale: 2008; 5-10 years after that; and 30-100 years after that . In his view, 2008 will be a year of big changes not only for Taiwan but also for many other countries.
"There will be a legislative election at the end of this year and the presidential election next year in Taiwan. In South Korea, the parliamentary and presidential elections will be held -- in reverse order compared to Taiwan -- in 2008. Japan will hold a senate election and the U.S. will elect its next president in 2008. And of course, the 2008 Beijing Olympics will be held in China, " Ko said.
In addition, a proposal has been submitted in the European Union that seeks to elect an E.U. president in 2009, Ko added.
"In other words, from 2008 to 2009 we will be seeing a lot of new leaders in many countries and a possible new world order and landscape. The implications of this phenomenon for Taiwan are worthy of observation, " he said.
Looking ahead to the near future of 5-10 years, Ko said the U.S. will still be the most influential country to Taiwan simply because, in addition to the long history and partnership between two countries, the U.S. accounts for 25 percent of the world economy and its military budget takes up 48 percent of the global military
spending.
Ko, who has written a number of controversial books and is known for his anti-China stance, also used various statistics to back his claim that China's rise is not as powerful and threatening as people think.
The Tokyo-based writer made the remark at a book promotion event.
"Overall, Taiwan is not doing as badly as some local media have described and China is not doing as well as they have said. There is no need to panic and be pessimistic about Taiwan's future, " claimed Ko Bunyu, a Taiwanese writer who is also known as Huang Wen-hsiung and lives in Japan.
Ko addressed his views of Taiwan's future in a three-stage rationale: 2008; 5-10 years after that; and 30-100 years after that . In his view, 2008 will be a year of big changes not only for Taiwan but also for many other countries.
"There will be a legislative election at the end of this year and the presidential election next year in Taiwan. In South Korea, the parliamentary and presidential elections will be held -- in reverse order compared to Taiwan -- in 2008. Japan will hold a senate election and the U.S. will elect its next president in 2008. And of course, the 2008 Beijing Olympics will be held in China, " Ko said.
In addition, a proposal has been submitted in the European Union that seeks to elect an E.U. president in 2009, Ko added.
"In other words, from 2008 to 2009 we will be seeing a lot of new leaders in many countries and a possible new world order and landscape. The implications of this phenomenon for Taiwan are worthy of observation, " he said.
Looking ahead to the near future of 5-10 years, Ko said the U.S. will still be the most influential country to Taiwan simply because, in addition to the long history and partnership between two countries, the U.S. accounts for 25 percent of the world economy and its military budget takes up 48 percent of the global military
spending.
Ko, who has written a number of controversial books and is known for his anti-China stance, also used various statistics to back his claim that China's rise is not as powerful and threatening as people think.
The Tokyo-based writer made the remark at a book promotion event.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
KMT, BUSINESSMEN THREATS TO TAIWAN-U.S.-CHINA TIES: EX-U.S. OFFICIAL
Taipei, May 22 (CNA) Taiwanese businessmen and the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) are among "four threats" to Taiwan-U.S.-China relations, an ex-U.S. official said in a forum Tuesday.
The People's Republic of China, the international community and the U.S.'s use of the phrase "one China, " Taiwanese businessmen and the KMT are four threats to Taiwan-U.S.-China relations, according to Bruce Herschensohn, a political commentator who served as deputy special assistant to disgraced former President Richard Nixon.
Herschensohn also suggested when he met President Chen Shui-bian Tuesday that Oct. 25 should be a national holiday "celebrating Taiwan's independence" because Taiwan gave up its seat in the United Nations Oct. 25, 1971.
With so much trade being done with China, it seems the majority of Taiwanese businessmen lean toward maintaining the status quo, he pointed out, adding that people are reluctant to discuss Taiwan independence due to the fear of going to war.
"Taiwan is at risk for not being independent, " he claimed, saying that Taiwan has to depend on outside help and that businessmen cannot keep their businesses from potential risk.
As for the KMT, he said that from listening to KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou and other KMT politicians, "you can always feel China in the background." An even more confusing fact is that the KMT did not participate in a rally against China's "anti-secession law" rally in March 2005, while less than a week later, KMT honorary Chairman Lien Chan visited China.
China is obviously a threat, but being moderate to a country that deploys more than 900 missiles against Taiwan is even more dangerous thinking, Herschensohn added while questioned "some people's" attitudes toward China.
He also said he does not oppose the "one China" phrase but "at the same time, there's also one Taiwan and one Australia" and Taiwan has never been under the control of the PRC.
Herschensohn said that since Taiwan will not be recognized in the U.N. after so many failed bids, it might as well "take the opposite course" and do what it thinks is the right thing to do.
Herschensohn, Pepperdine University Vice Chancellor Michael Wardner and senior advisor to President Chen Shui-bian Wu Li-pei were the three major participants in a forum titled "U.S.-Taiwan Relations Retrospective and Prospects" organized by the pro-independence Taiwan Thinktank.
The People's Republic of China, the international community and the U.S.'s use of the phrase "one China, " Taiwanese businessmen and the KMT are four threats to Taiwan-U.S.-China relations, according to Bruce Herschensohn, a political commentator who served as deputy special assistant to disgraced former President Richard Nixon.
Herschensohn also suggested when he met President Chen Shui-bian Tuesday that Oct. 25 should be a national holiday "celebrating Taiwan's independence" because Taiwan gave up its seat in the United Nations Oct. 25, 1971.
With so much trade being done with China, it seems the majority of Taiwanese businessmen lean toward maintaining the status quo, he pointed out, adding that people are reluctant to discuss Taiwan independence due to the fear of going to war.
"Taiwan is at risk for not being independent, " he claimed, saying that Taiwan has to depend on outside help and that businessmen cannot keep their businesses from potential risk.
As for the KMT, he said that from listening to KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou and other KMT politicians, "you can always feel China in the background." An even more confusing fact is that the KMT did not participate in a rally against China's "anti-secession law" rally in March 2005, while less than a week later, KMT honorary Chairman Lien Chan visited China.
China is obviously a threat, but being moderate to a country that deploys more than 900 missiles against Taiwan is even more dangerous thinking, Herschensohn added while questioned "some people's" attitudes toward China.
He also said he does not oppose the "one China" phrase but "at the same time, there's also one Taiwan and one Australia" and Taiwan has never been under the control of the PRC.
Herschensohn said that since Taiwan will not be recognized in the U.N. after so many failed bids, it might as well "take the opposite course" and do what it thinks is the right thing to do.
Herschensohn, Pepperdine University Vice Chancellor Michael Wardner and senior advisor to President Chen Shui-bian Wu Li-pei were the three major participants in a forum titled "U.S.-Taiwan Relations Retrospective and Prospects" organized by the pro-independence Taiwan Thinktank.
FIRST 'ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TAIWAN' PROJECT LAUNCHED
Taipei, May 22 (CNA) An "Encyclopedia of Taiwan" project, which seeks to publish the first encyclopedia about Taiwan and eventually become a "Taiwanese version" of Encyclopedia Britannica, was officially launched Tuesday, a publisher and the Council of Cultural Affairs (CCA) announced in a press conference.
The structure of the encyclopedia is expected to be laid out within the first six months and the first six volumes will be completed in two years in the first phase of the project, said Wang Jung-wen, chairman of the YLib Group.
"The compilation of an encyclopedia is a national project. It will cost billions of dollars and will require huge manpower resources and great help from academia. Hopefully, we can show the readers the variety and identity of Taiwan with the completion of this project," Wang said.
"We wish to use the Korean edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica as an example, as it has the requisite regional angle," said Iris Du, executive director of the project.
Lee Yuan-tseh, a Nobel laureate and former director of Academia Sinica, has accepted the offer to preside over a committee of hundreds of professors from universities and institutions that will oversee the editing of the encyclopedia.
The second stage of the project will be to present a global view from a Taiwanese perspective as well as to interpret Taiwanese culture and serve as a platform for the overall knowledge base in Taiwan, Du said.
The structure of the encyclopedia is expected to be laid out within the first six months and the first six volumes will be completed in two years in the first phase of the project, said Wang Jung-wen, chairman of the YLib Group.
"The compilation of an encyclopedia is a national project. It will cost billions of dollars and will require huge manpower resources and great help from academia. Hopefully, we can show the readers the variety and identity of Taiwan with the completion of this project," Wang said.
"We wish to use the Korean edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica as an example, as it has the requisite regional angle," said Iris Du, executive director of the project.
Lee Yuan-tseh, a Nobel laureate and former director of Academia Sinica, has accepted the offer to preside over a committee of hundreds of professors from universities and institutions that will oversee the editing of the encyclopedia.
The second stage of the project will be to present a global view from a Taiwanese perspective as well as to interpret Taiwanese culture and serve as a platform for the overall knowledge base in Taiwan, Du said.
Monday, May 21, 2007
`FOUR IMPERATIVES' DOES NOT CONTRAVENE `FOUR NOES': PRESIDENT
Taipei, May 21 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Monday that his "four imperatives and one non-issue" dictum does not contravene his "four noes plus one" pledge and that he has always been consistent.
Speaking in a 30-minute interview with Channel NewsAsia, a Singapore state-owned television station, Chen elaborated on a wide range of issues, including his policy toward China, the U.S. and Japan, the consistency of his policies, the 2008 Beijing Olympic relay route and Frank Hsieh winning the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential primary.
"I have always remained consistent. The Chen Shui-bian of 2000, of 2004, and of 2007 are all the same Chen Shui-bian. I have not changed. Regardless of whether it's my policies toward China, toward the building and promoting of our relationship with the United States, or other issues, there has been no change, " he said.
Chen said the imperative of independence lies on the fact that "the vast majority of Taiwan's people are very clear on, support staunchly, and desire to defend the fact that Taiwan is a sovereign independent nation."
As for the imperative of changing the country's name, Chen said that "we have not changed the national title, but merely wish to use the name `Taiwan' in the international arena."
On the issue of a new constitution, he said that "Taiwan needs a new constitution because the existing one is out of date, unsuitable, and inapplicable. Despite numerous revisions, our people are still unsatisfied. In order for the nation to achieve long-term stability and sound governance, and to improve our international competitiveness, we must proceed with the constitutional re-engineering process."
He also said that speculation on why security in the Taiwan Strait was not listed among the common strategic objectives of the recent U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Meeting was unnecessary and that it was not the first time the issue was ignored.
"The U.S. and Japanese governments have explained that their policies toward Taiwan have not changed, nor has there been any change in their policies toward the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. The United States is still bound by the Taiwan Relations Act, and is still obligated by that law to help Taiwan defend itself. The United States and Japan have a security treaty that, like a Japanese law concerning its surrounding region, cites Taiwan as a focus of concern, " he said.
Channel NewsAsia interviewed Chen in Taipei May 9 and broadcast the interview Monday. It marked the first time since 1999 that Singapore's state-owned television station has interviewed Taiwan's president.
Speaking in a 30-minute interview with Channel NewsAsia, a Singapore state-owned television station, Chen elaborated on a wide range of issues, including his policy toward China, the U.S. and Japan, the consistency of his policies, the 2008 Beijing Olympic relay route and Frank Hsieh winning the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential primary.
"I have always remained consistent. The Chen Shui-bian of 2000, of 2004, and of 2007 are all the same Chen Shui-bian. I have not changed. Regardless of whether it's my policies toward China, toward the building and promoting of our relationship with the United States, or other issues, there has been no change, " he said.
Chen said the imperative of independence lies on the fact that "the vast majority of Taiwan's people are very clear on, support staunchly, and desire to defend the fact that Taiwan is a sovereign independent nation."
As for the imperative of changing the country's name, Chen said that "we have not changed the national title, but merely wish to use the name `Taiwan' in the international arena."
On the issue of a new constitution, he said that "Taiwan needs a new constitution because the existing one is out of date, unsuitable, and inapplicable. Despite numerous revisions, our people are still unsatisfied. In order for the nation to achieve long-term stability and sound governance, and to improve our international competitiveness, we must proceed with the constitutional re-engineering process."
He also said that speculation on why security in the Taiwan Strait was not listed among the common strategic objectives of the recent U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Meeting was unnecessary and that it was not the first time the issue was ignored.
"The U.S. and Japanese governments have explained that their policies toward Taiwan have not changed, nor has there been any change in their policies toward the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. The United States is still bound by the Taiwan Relations Act, and is still obligated by that law to help Taiwan defend itself. The United States and Japan have a security treaty that, like a Japanese law concerning its surrounding region, cites Taiwan as a focus of concern, " he said.
Channel NewsAsia interviewed Chen in Taipei May 9 and broadcast the interview Monday. It marked the first time since 1999 that Singapore's state-owned television station has interviewed Taiwan's president.
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