Ma: ROC’s existence is threatened by DPP, China

While China is unscrupulously persecuting the ROC in the international community, Ma said the Presidential Office was celebrating National Day in a ceremony without making any reference to the country’s official title.

Ma made the remarks while attending the national flag-raising ceremonies organized by the opposition-ruled city and county government of Taipei to rival the National Day event at the Presidential Office.

Opposition leaders refused to take part in the central government-arranged ceremony, which gave heavy emphasis on the country’s bid to use the name “Taiwan” to apply for U.N. membership.

But Taipei’s U.N. bid has been consistently thwarted by Beijing, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan, and has tried to suppress any reference to the “ROC,” including the display of its flag, in international events.

“The Chinese communists are suppressing our flag, and the DPP is joining them in unison to jointly persecute the ROC,” said Ma, who represents the Kuomintang in the presidential election.

But the KMT camp is advocating closer ties across the strait, including the formation of a “Taiwan-China common market.”

President Chen Shui-bian, in his National Day address, criticized Ma’s idea of common market, which he said would result in Taiwan’s loss of economic autonomy and an influx of cheap Chinese labor and agricultural produce.

But Ma said the president was rash in criticizing the common market idea, proposed by the KMT candidate’s running mate Vincent Siew.

Ma said it was “pitiful” that Chen had failed to grasp the meaning of the “Taiwan-China common market” idea.

Ma explained that before the common market materializes, Taiwan and China should first sign cooperation pacts on various economic issues, including an investment guarantee agreement, a bilateral taxation exemption agreement and a dispute-solving agreement.

Noting that not even the former European Common Market was achieved in one huge leap, Ma said it would take time for the “Taiwan-China common market” to take shape step by step.

The ceremonies at the city and county of Taipei city and county were presided over by their respective government chiefs, Hau Lung-bin and Chou Hsi-wei.

Each of the ceremonies attracted a few thousands participants. In Taipei, a road-running activity was also held.

Hau, a member of the KMT, said the DPP’s reluctance to recognize the Republic of China “has deeply hurt the feelings of the people.”

Also attending the Taipei City Hall ceremony were, apart from Ma, KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung and Secretary-General Wu Den-yih, New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming, as well as lawmakers and city councilors from the opposition camp.

Ma said he did not attend the Presidential Office rally as he was not invited by the host.

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