Government Officials Deny Changes in Cross-Strait Policy

Taiwan News, Aug. 4, 2002

High-ranking government officials and leaders from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party asserted that President Chen Shui-bian's comments yesterday reiterated Taiwan's sovereignty and confirmed that the government's cross-strait policy would remain unchanged.

Chen said firmly that Taiwan is an independent sovereign state and "with Taiwan and China on each side of the (Taiwan) Strait, each side is a country. This needs to be clear."

Chen Shih-meng, secretary-general to the president, explained yesterday that the comments merely reinforced the notion that Taiwan is not one of China's provinces, and it is impossible for us to accept China's "one China" policy or "one country, two systems" schemes.

Chen stated that the point that President Chen wanted to emphasize is that Taiwan is an independent sovereign state.

As to whether or not President Chen's statement would impact the government's ongoing cross-strait policies, the secretary-general noted that the government's attitude on cross-strait relations would remain unchanged, and "we (the government) will continue to carry out our ongoing cross-strait policies."

Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄), Secretary-General of the Democratic Progressive Party, reaffirmed yesterday that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁)'s comment that Taiwan is an independent sovereign country and is not part of the People's Republic of China did not contradict Chen's inauguration speech in May 2000, in which he voiced the "five noes" as his China policy.

Chang said that the DPP's stance towards its China policy has not changed. "President Chen's inauguration speech in May 2000 as president and his address in July as a chairman of DPP are both in accord with the resolution regarding Taiwan's future, which asserts that as long as China does not use military force against Taiwan, the island's status quo would be maintained," Chang added.

"The DPP maintains that Taiwan citizens have the right of referendum based on Constitution," Chang said.

Chang said that only comprehensive dialogue between Taiwan and China can lead to better mutual understanding, which he said would be conducive to permanent peace between the two sides. Chang stressed that the DPP will make maximum effort to achieving this goal.

Chang made the remark while paying a visit to local-level DPP officials in Chiayi, southern Taiwan.

Lin Cho-shui (林濁水), lawmaker and the executive director of the party's Policy Research and Coordinating Committee, said "President Chen's statement only reflects the current political situation across the strait and the content of the president's remarks met the spirit of the DPP's 1999 resolution on Taiwan's future," Lin noted.

DPP legislative whip Wang Tuoh called on his opposition colleagues to quit criticizing Chen in an effort to cater to China, saying that Chen only described the current situation, and did not deviate from the spirit of the resolution regarding Taiwan's future.

As to whether the DPP legislative caucus will push for the passage of the referendum legislation immediately, Wang said the decision would be made through talks in the party's Central Standing Committee, which he said would be hosted by Chen in his capacity as DPP chairman.

Meanwhile, the Taiwan Solidarity Union would continue to promote the referendum bill in the Legislature, said the party's spokesman Hsiao Kuan-yu.

The TSU spokesman noted that his party genuinely welcomed President Chen's call for establishing a referendum law to allow the people of Taiwan to decide the island's future. He added that the TSU is anticipating the ruling party's support for the bill during the next legislative session.

The Democratic Progressive Party caucus should have no excuse to oppose the draft, since the establishment of a referendum law is stated in the party's main guideline, the Resolution Regarding Taiwan Future, Hsiao said.

The TSU endeavored to draft a referendum bill during the last session of the Legislature but the proposal was rejected by the other parties, including the DPP.

Compared to another draft unveiled earlier by the DPP Lawmaker Trong Chai (蔡同榮), the TSU's referendum proposal allowed that the people should decide on the nation's political status, among other public policy issues, through a popular vote.

The Taiwan Solidarity Union meanwhile vowed to continue its bid to rectify the name of Taiwan.

The TSU believes that by adopting the use of "Taiwan" as the official name of the nation, the country can achieve greater advances in the area of diplomacy since Taiwan can be clearly recognized as 'Taiwan,' the spokesman noted.

Hsiao further emphasized that the party is considering listing the bid to rectify the country's name in the party's manifesto.

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