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US Reminds Taiwanese Leader Not To Break Commitments
Washington (AFP) Sep 25, 2006 The United States on Monday reminded Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian to keep his commitment not to raise sovereignty issues that could anger China, as the leader pushed for a new constitution for the island. Chen, under pressure to resign over corruption scandals, raised the issue of a new constitution at a seminar Sunday sponsored by his independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), a move likely to irk China which regards the island as its territory. The Taiwanese leader had raised the possibility of changing the territorial definitions of Taiwan. Reacting to the move, the US State Department said it took "very seriously" Chen's "repeated commitments not to permit the constitutional reform process to touch on sovereignty issues, which includes territorial definition." State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said "we expect him to carry out those commitments, and we'll see what happens." The fulfillment of the commitments, Casey said, "is a test of his leadership, as well as his ability to protect Taiwan's interests, its relations with others, and to maintain peace and stability in the straits." China's parliament last year approved a controversial anti-secession law authorizing military force against Taiwan if the island moved toward formal independence. Taiwan and China split in 1949 at the end of a civil war after Kuomintang (KMT) troops were defeated by communist forces led by Mao Zedong and fled to the island. Chen told the seminar that Taiwan should overhaul its constitution which was enacted by the KMT, or nationalist, government in China in 1947 and has gone through seven amendments since 1991. Under the constitution, Taiwanese territory included all of China, but in reality only Taiwan and some offshore islands were ruled from Taipei, he said. Chen has previously shunned the sensitive topic on territory by saying Taiwan needs a new constitution only to enhance government efficiency.
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China To Have 174 Million People Over 60 By 2010
Beijing, China (XNA) Sep 22, 2006China will have 174 million senior citizens aged over 60 in 2010, or 12.78 percent of the entire population, according to a document on the aging population published on Thursday. According to the document issued by the China National Committee on Aging with the approval of the State Council, 21.32 million of those senior citizens will be aged over 80. |
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