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The biggest stories around Taiwan today.
Chinese aircraft carrier returns to China
China’s first aircraft carrier, The Liaoning, has arrived at a naval base in China’s Hainan Province according to a Taiwanese senior military officer, Taipei Times reports. China had been testing the carrier’s systems and coordination with other military equipment, the officer said, and its arrival in Hainan did not mean its mission was over. The Liaoning, accompanied by five other warships, sailed through the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島), a Taiwan-controlled area in the northern part of the South China Sea, on Dec. 26. China has given few details of The Liaoning’s mission, only that it is doing a routine exercise and complying with international law.
Tsai’s first statement regarding high school Nazi skit
President Tsai-Ing Wen (蔡英文) made her first statement today regarding the incident of the high school students who dressed up in Nazi uniforms in their school parade. Tsai said the “students are not to blame but the adults,” and believes the incident resulted from a lack of human rights education, which she said should be integrated with all subjects taught at school. Tsai said that education would only be considered successful when students are able to “understand others’ suffering” and “respect others’ rights.”
China upset at de facto Japan embassy to include ‘Taiwan’ in its new name
China expressed dissatisfaction yesterday after Japan's de facto embassy in Taiwan said it would change its name to include the word “Taiwan.” The “Interchange Association, Japan” will become the “Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association” starting from Jan. 1, 2017, according to an announcement on its official website.
Japan maintains only informal relations with Taiwan while it has diplomatic ties with Beijing. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying (華春瑩) said at a conference that China urges Japan to uphold the "one China" principle, handle Taiwan-related matters “appropriately,” and not send a wrong message to Taiwan and the international community or create new disturbances in China-Japan ties, Reuters reports.
An Interchange Association official in Japan said the decision to rename itself was taken to boost recognition in Taiwan. Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday lauded the Interchange Association, Japan’s decision, saying that the move would clarify Taiwan-Japan ties and be a milestone in relations between the two nations, Taipei Times reports.
The National Security Bureau warns retired military personnel not to travel to China
The Taiwan National Security Bureau (NSB) on Dec. 28 sent formal documents to military personnel that have retired or resigned from the bureau, stating that it does not recommend them to visit China and that the NSB will not “rescue” or help them if they are detained by Chinese officials, United Daily News reports.
NSB Deputy Director Kuo Chung-hsin (郭崇信) said this morning that now is not “an appropriate time” for the retired or resigned personnel to visit China and that the bureau was sending them “reminders.” However, when asked what would happen if the personnel was actually detained by China, Kuo replied, “The country will help its people whenever they are in trouble.”
Tsai’s visit to Central America under spotlight
There has been speculation that Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen‘s (蔡英文) scheduled visit to Central America nations Honduras and Nicaragua next January is due to concerns that the Central American nations are on the verge of breaking diplomatic ties with Taiwan, Taiwan News reports. The rumors emerge at a time when Sao Tome and Principe decided to end diplomatic relations with Taiwan on Dec. 21, five days before Beijing announced it has re-established ties with the small West African nation. The Presidential Office has not yet responded to the rumors. Tsai is scheduled to embark on a state visit in January to four of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in Central America, namely Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras.
Editor: Olivia Yang