| Current edition | Previous edition | News Index | Contents | |
| Current edition | Previous edition | News Index | Contents |
---"Focused Coverage Informed Perspectives"--- Tue, Nov 4, 1997 editionSummit Coverage:
government says summit ended turmoil in relations
Also in this edition . . .
1: Government says media made a mistake in interpreting Jiang's words
2: lethal injection seen as 'human' and efficient
3: government says dam can withstand attack in war
4: Bush reiterates US policy will stay the course
5: MAC chairman calls for greater dialogue with US and mainland
6: Opinion: is this the first time a Chinese head of state has come to the US?
7: protestors arrive at Presidential Office miffed by Lee's campaign promise
8: Taipei gears up for annual forum, this year in Vancouver
9: New Taiwan dollar break 31.00 barrier
10: lower value for NT dollar pushes commodity prices up
CHINA
Capital punishment: lethal injection seen as 'human' and efficient
( Execution by lethal injection adopted as official alternative ) In Kunming yesterday four convicts were executed by lethal injection, reports the South China Morning Post. Officials are reportedly pleased with the results and might phase out firing squads. "This method is humane and can save financial and staff resources," a Kunming court spokesman said.Three Gorges Dam: government says dam can withstand attack in war
( Bid to ease dam disaster worries ) Responding to concerns about the Three Gorges Dam project and its vulnerability as a military target, the mainland media is publishing reports discounting the mammoth dam's vulnerability to conventional and nuclear weapons. Articles argue the thickness of its walls would withstand conventional weapons; and in the case of a nuclear attack, authorities would be able to divert water, if given adequate forewarning.These concerns come at a time when the project is nearing the next phase in its construction, and there is a sizeable number of people opposed or concerned about the dam's impact on environment and local societies. It wouldseem, concerns over its vulnerability to attack speak more to a general apprehensiveness about the entire project.
Curiously, "a State Council official said that it was not the communists, but Sun Yat-sen, founder of Chinese nationalism, who first proposed damming the Yangtze in 1919 to improve shipping conditions and generate China's electricity," writes the South China Morning Post. "Sun's proposal was followed by decades of studies, first by the Kuomintang government before 1949 and then the communists, he said."
Nuclear: ( Netanyahu given Iran assurance ) In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Politburo member Wen Jiabao said China was not providing Iran with assistance in the nuclear field, reports the South China Morning Post.
SUMMIT COVERAGE
Summit: Jiang returns to red-carpet welcome, and govt. declares end of tumultuous relations
( Triumphant return seals end to 'turmoil' ) Jiang Zemin returned to Beijing yesterday pleased with the summit's result and greeted to a red-carpet welcome in the Great Hall of the People. Li Peng ,Qiao Shi and other senior cadres were in attendance for the brief ceremony. A government spokesman said this about the trip: "This trip . . . ends the turmoil in Sino-US relations over the past few years and opens up a new future," Foreign Ministry spokesman Tang Guoqiang said. . . .
Tiananmen: Government says media made a mistake in interpreting Jiang's words
( Leader 'quoted out of context' ) China's government is dismissing media reports speculating on the intent of Jiang's speech at Harvard. A government spokesman said, "A small number of people misunderstood President Jiang's remarks and some media made incorrect reports on his comments. We hope these people will earnestly study the important speeches of President Jiang." This statement is in reference to speculation that a statement in Jiang's speech, that the government had made 'mistakes,' might mark the beginning of an official reassessment of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown. Such speculation was carried far and wide, including in China Informed. The South China Morning Post article also quotes an a US State Department spokesman who thought China was not re-thinking the official line.
Summit: Bush reiterates US policy will stay the course
Richard Bush, chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), yesterday reiterated his government's assurances that American policy toward Taiwan wouldn't change after the summit meeting between mainland Chinese President Jiang Zemin and US President Bill Clinton. Bush made the remarks after briefing Foreign Minister Jason Hu on the summit at the foreign ministry's Taipei headquarters.Bush said Taipei's relations with the US were protected by the Taiwan Relations Act, which has been in place since Washington switched diplomatic recognition of China from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. Hu told reporters he was satisfied with Bush's briefing, even though critics have said Bush was not present at any of Jiang's meetings with Clinton.
Hu also said Taipei would carefully examine the joint statement signed by Washington and Beijing amid concerns Taiwan could get left out in the cold by warming mainland China-US relations. Hu declined to reveal the contents of his meeting with Bush, whose organization handles exchanges with Taiwan in the absence of official links. Bush, who arrived here Friday, was scheduled to meet with a variety of government officials, politicians and AIT officials during his nine-day stay in Taiwan.
See also http://www.chinatimes.com/papers/ctimes/focus/86110401.htm http://www.chinatimes.com/papers/ctimes/focus/86110402.htm
(Chinese BIG 5 encoding) (Note: Access to China Times articles are limited to subscribers. As the paper's system is currently configured, to access an article listed here you must first go to the front-page at http://www.chinatimes.com and from there locate the article)
Summit: MAC chairman calls for greater dialogue with US and mainland
Wu An-chia, a vice chairman of the cabinet's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), said Taipei should take precautions to reduce or even eliminate altogether possible harmful effects on Taiwan by enhancing high-level dialogue with the US after the strengthened bilateral relationship between Washington and Beijing following the Clinton-Jiang summit.Wu said Taipei would also need to prepare actively for resuming cross-strait negotiations. He said Taipei's best move would be to put more effort into starting talks and exchanges on issues of security, as well as continuing to push for Taiwan's space in the international community.
He said the door to negotiations is always open and that Taipei is actively preparing to resume cross- strait talks in the hope of eliminating doubt and improving trust across the Taiwan Strait. He added that topics for negotiation in the future might include both practical and political questions.
Wu said that US policy regarding its relations with both sides of the Taiwan Strait still emphasizes that cross-strait reunification should be resolved peacefully by Chinese on both sides, and that Washington will continue to encourage a peaceful resolution of cross-strait conflicts.
See also http://www.chinatimes.com/papers/ctimes/focus/86110403.htm
(Chinese BIG 5 encoding) (Note: Access to China Times articles are limited to subscribers. As the paper's system is currently configured, to access an article listed here you must first go to the front-page at http://www.chinatimes.com and from there locate the article)
OPINION
Summit: is this the first time a Chinese head of state has come to the US?
Professor Feng Da-hsuan (feng@duvm.ocs.drexel.edu) asks whether Jiang's trip to the United States was in fact the first one by a Head of State.Dear World colleagues:
I have a question that needs a clear answer.
Interest, pro or con, about the State Visit by President Jiang Zemin reached its crest last week with the arrival of him and his entourage in Honolulu. In this century many United States presidents had visited China. Of course, when a United States President visited another country, there is no question that he is the Head-of-State of the country, in name and in power.
In the past several weeks there were a great deal of talk that not since either Dang Xiaoping (1979) or Lee Xiannien (1985) has there been a Chinese leader who came to the United States for a State Visit. Some newspaper said that there has been a 18 year gap (i.e. Deng) or a 12 year gap (i.e. Li). However, I believe that the gap is even longer than that! Unless I am wrong, I believe never has a Chinese leader, in name and in power, been to the United States. Jiang is the first one.
Prior to 1911, the year in which Sun Yat-sen and his comrades formed the Republic of China, no Chinese emperor ventured to the United States. Although Sun Yat-sen spent a great deal of his youth in Honolulu and travelled throughout the union drumming up support for his revolutionary endeavor, never did he visit the United States in his capacity as President of the Republic.
A number of lesser individuals followed Sun Yat-sen and I am confident that none of them State Visited the United States, if at all. I also believe that as President of the Republic of China, Chiang Kai-Shek before 1949, also never State Visited the United States, if at all!
This brings us to the two recent visits, Deng and Li.
In 1979, Deng came to the United States and his official title was Chairman of the Military Commission. He was not the President of the country, and I am quite certain he did not,/em> carry the title of General Secretary of the party; though, one should add that he was de facto the leader of the country. However, he had the power, but not the name.
In 1985, Li came to the United States as the President of the Country. However, he was neither the General Secretary of the Party, nor the Chairman of the Military Commission. In fact, I would go as far to say that he was not even the de facto leader of the country. After all, we all know that at that point in China, Deng was alive and well! Thus, Li had little power, if at all, and a limited name.
Therefore, since Jiang is the President of China, the Chairman of the Military Commission and the General Secretary of the Party, he is coming to the United States clearly as a leader in name and in power.
Hence, if this analysis is correct, then for the first time in United States history, a true Chinese leader, in name and in power, came for a state visit. Coming at the heels of the 20th century, as both the United States and China are global economic powers, such a visit is of profound importance.
Can someone tell me whether my analysis is correct or not. Thanks! (Comments may be sent to feng@duvm.ocs.drexel.edu)
TAIWAN DESK
Elections: protestors arrive at Presidential Office miffed by Lee's campaign promise
Two candidates in the Nov 29 elections for Taipei County chiefs and over 100 supporters rallied in front of the Presidential Office yesterday, protesting against President Lee's controversial campaign promises to institute an 'old-age pension' scheme.Lee announced the scheme during a campaign stop on behalf of KMT candidate Shieh Shen-shan, promising a monthly stipend of NT5000 for residents 65 years and older if Shieh were elected.
The protest began at 9:20 am this morning with the arrival of Democratic Progressive Party candidate Su Cheng-chang and a couple campaigners. They challenged Lee to a debate over the president's pension policy. Su was received into the office.
New Party's Yang Tai-shun accompanied by more than 100 senior residents of Taipei County arrived minutes later, but was denied entry. Tensions mounted as police guarding the office twice warned the demonstrators to disperse. But the presidential office finally agreed to receive Yang. Neither Su nor Yang meat with Lee, whose said he was occupied at the time.
In the last election, incumbent Taipei County Commissioner You Ching (DPP) also made a similar promise of a stipend. But financial difficulties forced him to cease dispersing it after only four months.
The DPP's Su pointed out that at least NT$12.1 billion would be needed to pay the more than 200,000 senior residents in the country, a sum much larger than the country's entire annual welfare budget.
Yang admonished the president for 'irresponsible' words. "We are very worried about the check he issued," said Yang.
But elsewhere, KMT Secretary-General Wu Poh-hsiung defended Lee's promised monthly check. Sheih had made an estimate of the county's financial status and had told Lee, who doubles as KMT chairman, the financial status of the country, assured Lee of the scheme's viability.
Some are also worried over the program's ramifications on national policy and are worried it would become a national program costing over NT$100 billion per year.
See also http://www.chinatimes.com/papers/commerce/focus/86110413.htm
(Chinese BIG 5 encoding) (Note: Access to China Times articles are limited to subscribers. As the paper's system is currently configured, to access an article listed here you must first go to the front-page at http://www.chinatimes.com and from there locate the article)
APEC: Taipei gears up for annual forum, this year in Vancouver
P.K. Chiang, chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD), will lead the Republic of China delegation to the annual ministerial-level conference of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum scheduled for Nov.21-22 in Vancouver, Canada.The ROC delegation, to be composed of officials from various government agencies, is scheduled to leave Taipei for Vancouver on Nov.18, the Ministry of Economic Affairs reported on Monday.
Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Chih-kang will also attend the annual APEC ministerial-level meeting. It has yet to be decided who will represent Taiwan at the annual APEC informal leadership meeting.
The recent regional currency crisis and an environmental disaster caused by fires in Southeast Asia are expected to be major concerns at this year's APEC meeting, economics ministry official said.
The agenda will also include issues related to electronics business, biotechnology, technological cooperation and action plans for further market opening and economic liberalization.
See also http://www.chinatimes.com/papers/commerce/focus/86110405.htm
(Chinese BIG 5 encoding) (Note: Access to China Times articles are limited to subscribers. As the paper's system is currently configured, to access an article listed here you must first go to the front-page at http://www.chinatimes.com and from there locate the article)
ECONOMICS
Currency: New Taiwan dollar break 31.00 barrier
The US dollar today rose sharply against the New Taiwan dollar, breaking through the key 31.00 barrier in early trading to set a new 10-year high, and then rising further on importer buying and the outflow of foreign stock investment funds, dealers said.Dealers said the continued weakness of the South Korean won caused some to believe the local unit will also have to fall to maintain export competitiveness. Dealers said profit-taking and export selling was quite active at higher levels and that some foreign banks with non-deliverable forward positions were looking to sell. Observers believe there is still an upside for the US unit but it will be limited in the short term to 31.500.
See also http://www.chinatimes.com/papers/ctimes/focus/86110405.htm
(Chinese BIG 5 encoding) (Note: Access to China Times articles are limited to subscribers. As the paper's system is currently configured, to access an article listed here you must first go to the front-page at http://www.chinatimes.com and from there locate the article)
Inflation: lower value for NT dollar pushes commodity prices up
The continuing depreciation of the New Taiwan dollar is fueling price hikes on basic commodities, including flour, corn and soybeans, for which Taiwan relies mainly on importers, sources from commodity associations reported on Monday.The Taiwan currency has fallen nearly eight percent against the US dollar since mid September, from NT$28.5 to NT$31 as of Monday, triggering an immediate threat of price increases to commodity importers.
According to the Taiwan Flour Mills Association, a 22-kg bag of flour is now NT$22.5 (US$0.70) more expensive than three months ago because of the NT dollar's depreciation, meaning that a hike in the retail price is inevitable.
The import price of corn has also edged up seven percent, increasing the wholesale price by NT$420 (US$13.6) per ton and threatening a price hike for down-stream foodstuff processors, the Taiwan Feed Industry Association said, while the price of imported soybeans is rising by NT$280-NT$290 per ton for every depreciation of NT$1 against the greenback.
Dearer soybeans mean more expensive soybean oil on the domestic market, which may cause increases in other food-related business, the association warned.
See also http://www.chinatimes.com/papers/commerce/focus/86110409.htm
(Chinese BIG 5 encoding) (Note: Access to China Times articles are limited to subscribers. As the paper's system is currently configured, to access an article listed here you must first go to the front-page at http://www.chinatimes.com and from there locate the article)