US lauds Taiwan for confiscating perilous chemicals

 

CNA , WASHINGTON

 

The US State Department lauded Taiwan's government yesterday for forcing the North Korean freighter Be Gae-hung to unload a batch of controlled chemicals before allowing it to leave Kaohsiung Harbor for North Korea.

 

State Department Deputy Spokesman Philip Reeker said during a regular press briefing that the chemical, identified as phosphorus pentasulfide, could have been used to make chemical weapons if transported to North Korea.

 

Customs officials seized 158 barrels of phosphorus pentasulfide from the vessel at Kaoshiung Harbor over the weekend, saying the case is being investigated.

 

Reeker commended Taiwan's action in efficiently stopping materials from being transported to arms proliferators.

 

The 6,500-tonne Be Gae-hung arrived in Kaohsiung last Thursday from Bangkok to unload batches of chemical materials, including aluminum powder.

 

Customs officials asked to inspect the vessel after being informed by US intelligence authorities that the North Korean freighter might be carrying a batch of dangerous chemicals which could be used in the production of nuclear weapons.

 

The freighter's captain refused the request, forcing them to detain the vessel to conduct a search.

 

During their search, the officials discovered the 158 barrels of phosphorus pentasulfide, which had been listed by the ship's captain as "commodities in transit."

 

The officials said their seizure of the chemicals was legitimate, noting that the chemical is listed as a strategic high-tech commodity (SHTC) subject to controls according to international law.

 

North Korea is listed as an area subject to SHTC controls. The consignee of the chemicals should have applied with the Bureau of Foreign Trade in advance for transit permission through Taiwan, officials said.

 

The Board of Foreign Trade will discuss the issue with other government agencies to decide how to deal with the chemicals, which is being stored in Kaohsiung Harbor, they said.

 

 

The US has first dibs

 

Among the recent heated discussions in Taiwan's media regarding whether the US has the right to oppose the referendum issues of Taiwan's independence and sovereignty, the US was accused by some pro-China groups of interfering with the internal affairs of Taiwan.

 

It is fitting to review how the US got involved with Taiwan, which might shed some light on trying to find the best solution for this explosive issue.

 

Contrary to the KMT's deceitful claims and teaching to the people of Taiwan for the last five decades that their troops liberated the island, it was US troops -- on behalf of the allied forces -- which liberated Tai-wan from Japanese occupation at the end of World War II.

 

As occurred with many Pacific Islands liberated by US forces, the US was accorded custodial rights and obligations pending the final solution of the sovereignty of Taiwan -- even though the US allowed the KMT's troops to occupy the island after the war.

 

China's claim of sovereignty over Taiwan is equally deceit-ful. If China's claim to Taiwan today is believable, then the Republic of Mongolia has every right to claim China as its lost territory because China was only one of Mongolia's provinces during the Mongol Empire in the 13th century.

 

Judging from China's staunch support of the US' enemies during the Korean and Vietnam wars and Beijing's assisting North Korea, Pakistan and Iran with nuclear armaments, a future conflict between the US and China is inevitable.

The possibility that some politicians in Taiwan might exploit the referendum issue for personal gains and China's feverish ambition to take Taiwan at any cost make it imperative that the US proclaim its sovereign right to Taiwan -- which, under international law, it could claim given the liberation of Taiwan by US forces.

 

It is high time that Washington informs Beijing in no uncertain terms that the US' "one China" policy has never implied or recognized China's sovereign right to Taiwan.

 

Washington's voicing of its concerns regarding a referendum on Taiwan's independence and sovereignty is a step in the right direction.

 

The US should move further to declare and assert its custodial right to the sovereignty of Taiwan so that there will be no misunderstanding on the part of the people and governments on either side of the Taiwan Strait.

 

Our foundation promotes Taiwan joining the US as a commonwealth -- through a US-sponsored referendum in Taiwan -- in order to preserve the democracy in Taiwan and to strengthen the US' national defense capability in the Pacific region. Our foundation's proposal offers the best solution to the Taiwan issue.

 

Arthur Li

Founder, USA-Taiwan Commonwealth Foundation

Florida

 

 

Council talks about security issues

 

NO EVIDENCE: The National Security Council said at a public hearing it has not yet uncovered any material showing Peggy Chang leaked information to China

 

By Melody Chen

STAFF REPORTER

 

The National Security Council said yesterday it has so far found no evidence against Peggy Chang, who resigned from the council amid allegations of leaking classified information to Beijing authorities.

 

PFP Legislator Chin Hui-chu invited council officials to discuss concerns over national security sparked by Chang's case at a public hearing yesterday.

 

National Security Council Secretariat-Director Lieutenant General James Liu said at the hearing the council has referred Chang's case to the Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau.

 

He said the council has determined the whereabouts of Chang, who resigned last Saturday.

 

"She is still at her home. We could not impose travel restrictions on her because so far no evidence has been found against her. Besides, there was no indication she would seek exile," he said.

 

National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Antonio Chiang expressed regrets over the incident and explained the council employed her because it had use for her expert knowledge of Chinese economic affairs.

 

Chang had devoted herself to research on the Chinese economy for 20 years at the Chung-hua Institute for Economic Research before she joined the council on April 1.

Antonio Chiang, left, deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council, is surrounded by reporters as he prepares documents during a public hearing on national security issues yesterday.

 

She had served as National Security Council Secretary-General Kang Ning-hsiang's  personal aide.

 

Her resignation came after a local newspaper reported that her husband had used her name to set up a company in Hong Kong which cooperated with the business arm of China's Ministry of Railways to operate land-development deals in Shanghai.

 

According to the report, Chang left the company in April because of a shareholders' dispute.

 

Chiang said investigations continue to determine whether the period of Chang's participation in the Hong Kong company's business overlapped with her service period with the council. Such overlapping was not allowed, he said.

 

The council will also investigate whether Chang violated the National Security Law and the Civil Servant Employment Law, he said.

 

Chiang said after employing Chang, the council realized she did not have a recent travel history to China.

 

But he admitted that her case served as a reminder to the council of the need to step up measures to examine the loyalty of its officials.

 

Chiang said Kang has already submitted a report on the matter to President Chen Shui-bian.

 

Meanwhile, Chang said although her husband had used her name to invest in businesses in China over the past 10 years, she never was involved in any of these deals.

 

She said she had not traveled to China for three years.

 

PFP Legislator Chiu Yi, who once worked at the Chung-hua Institute for Economic Research, alleged that Chang introduced her husband to a significant number of Chinese public figures who helped him build up his businesses.

 

The company Chang's husband had established under her name had been partly funded by Chinese authorities, Chiu said.

 

He alleged the Chinese authorities did this in order to "help the couple collect intelligence in Taiwan."

 

Chang denied Chiu's allegations and said she had always merely collected Chinese economic data for her research.

 

She said she never conducted research affected by any ideology.

 

 

Panama pledges firm support for Taiwan

 

STRENGTHENED TIES: Vice President Annette Lu says that Panama's president and its presidential hopefuls there have promised to improve relations with Taiwan

 

CNA , PANAMA CITY

 

Vice President Annette Lu said Tuesday that Panama's ruling and opposition parties have all promised to upgrade relations with Taiwan.

 

Lu made the remarks at a dinner party hosted by the Panamanian government in her honor.

 

Panamanian Second Vice President Dominador Kaiser Bazan, many other Panamanian officials, parliamentarians and social celebrities, including Ruby Moscoso, the sister of Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso, attended the party to welcome Lu and her entourage.

 

Lu said that Taiwan and Panama have a longstanding relationship because the two countries have shared values in promoting freedom, democracy, human rights and gender equality.

 

During her meeting with the Panamanian president earlier in the day, Lu said that Moscoso has reaffirmed her firm support for Taiwan.

 

"Moscoso told me that she had pledged support for [Taiwan] on her first day in office and will uphold this commitment until the last day of her term [Aug. 31, 2004]," Lu said, adding that Moscoso has also promised to take active steps to further boost cooperation with Taiwan during her tenure.

 

Lu said all of the three hopefuls intending to run for the Panamanian presidency have also promised to strengthen ties with Taiwan should they win the election.

According to the Panamanian Constitution, Moscoso cannot run for a second consecutive term. Moscoso said she is convinced that her successor will continue to maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

 

Moscoso is scheduled to arrive in Taipei Aug. 21 for a state visit. During her stay, she will sign a free trade agreement with President Chen Shui-bian to boost trade and economic cooperation between Taiwan and Panama.

Vice President Annette Lu, center, dines with Panamanian Second Vice President Dominador Kaiser Bazan, right, and Ruby Moscoso, the elder sister of Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso, at a dinner party in Lu's honor hosted by the Panamanian government.