DPP brushes aside U.S. objections

Yu made the remarks while giving a speech at a ceremony in central Changhua County during which more than 100 new party workers took an oath to serve the DPP. Defending the rekindled name-change campaign that he launched earlier this month, Yu contended that the drive will certainly boost the identification of the people of Taiwan with the country.

“The more the issue is being talked about, the more the people will feel an affection for Taiwan,” he asserted.

He further pointed out that the U.S. has no right to intervene in Taiwan’s internal affairs, including the name-change campaign for state-run enterprises.

Yu, who is still trailing other DPP presidential contenders for election in March next year, called for a customized constitution to make Taiwan a “normal” country and allow for joining the United Nations under the name “Taiwan.”

Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou again voiced his opposition to the DPP’s name-change drive, saying the DPP would not take such an action if it really loves Taiwan.

Ma described the DPP movement a senseless political manipulation that will only disrupt Taiwan society and annoy people.

The DPP’s deliberate disregard for U.S. concerns over the issue was only designed to divert public attention from the DPP’s corruption and incapable administration, including the ongoing trial of the first lady’s involvement in a scam over the misuse of the state affairs fund, Ma added.

Lawmakers of the People First Party (PFP), the key ally of the KMT, called for a summit with Ma, Honorary KMT Chairman Lien Chan, PFP Chairman James Soong, and Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng to discuss the urgent issue of the DPP’s name-change campaign and the forthcoming presidential election.

At a gathering Friday night, former president Lee Teng-hui harshly criticized the DPP government’s controversial move to drop “China” from the names of state enterprises, warning the move could endanger peace.

Lee, whose friendly attitude towards Beijing lately has irked many of his radical followers for Taiwan independence, questioned the real motives of the DPP.

In order to whip up the sentiment of their supporters, some people (in the DPP) have looked to hatred as did the Nazis, fascists and communists, he said.

Lee warned the measures could cause social unrest and bring disaster to the world.

“The changes should be done step by step and quietly rather than done as the polls approach,” Lee said in reference to parliamentary polls in December and the presidential polls in March 2008.

More than half Taiwan’s people oppose the change in the names, according to a poll released by cable news channel TVBS late Friday.

Some 55 percent of the 975 people surveyed on Thursday rejected the move while 21 percent approved. The rest had no comment.

Labor unions of several state-run enterprises also expressed their opposition to the change of corporate names. They urged the opposition parties to take more aggressive action to stem the push for changing the names of their companies.

Despite stern warnings from security officials, some union members said they plan to stage new protests if corporate executives ignore their request to put the issue on hold.

Premier Su Tseng-chang is scheduled to attend ceremonies to change the name of the government-run Chunghwa Post Co. to “Taiwan Post Co.” today, although earlier reports said that President Chen Shui-bian may personally officiate the ceremonies.

Su will also attend a similar ceremony at the Chinese Petroleum Corp. (CPC).

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