DPP should adjust China strategy: Tainan mayor

"I harbor no hostility toward China, but the DPP must stick firm to its standpoint, " Hsu said in a report published by the Singapore-based Lianhe Zaobo newspaper that same day.

"The DPP should strengthen its internal confidence and must not engage China amid an ambiguous and unequal situation, " he was quoted as saying.

Turning to a visit he plans to make to China July 17-21, Hsu described it as a "sports and cultural" journey.

During his stay in China, he will attend the First Straits Cup Sailing Boat Championship to be held between Fujian Province's Xiamen and Tainan's Anping — a cross-Taiwan Strait route that used to be thriving prior to World War Two. He will also visit the cities of Zhangzhou and Quangzhou, also in Fujian Province.

He reiterated his demands that he should be allowed to enter China without a special entry permit issued by Beijing for travelers from Taiwan,commonly known as the "Taiwan Compatriot Travel Certificate" and stressed that China must not describe Taiwan as a "province of China."

"However, it is acceptable if China views Tainan as a city of Taiwan Province, the Republic of China, or Tainan City, Taiwan, or simply Tainan City," he added.

"Although some DPP members are opposed to my (planned) China journey, a majority of them support my decision to go and help attract more Chinese tourists to Tainan City," he explained, stressing that "it will provide a chance for the Taiwanese people to test China's true colors if Beijing attempts to suppress me during this trip."

Commenting on an allegation that variables might arise ahead of the official opening of the regatta, Hsu said he is still looking forward to the trip.

He made it clear last week that he will drop his plans if Beijing insists that he must enter with the "Taiwan Compatriot Travel Certificate."

In addition, the Tainan mayor admitted that he might consider running for the DPP chairmanship, as many backers have encouraged him to take on the challenge.

Hsu's planned trip comes on the heels of a May 21-24 visit to China by Chen Chu, also a DPP heavyweight and mayor of Kaohsiung City.

Chen, the most prominent DPP incumbent official to have ever visited China, was making a promotional trip for the World Games in Kaohsiung next July 16 26.

President Ma Ying-jeou said in late May that improving Taiwan-China ties is not a prerogative of the ruling Kuomintang but is rather a path that all Taiwan's political parties should take because Taiwan needs to reach out in order to survive.

He encouraged DPP members to increase their contacts with China for the benefit of Taiwan.

The KMT favors strengthening relations with China, especially trade and economic links, but the DPP fears that some of Ma's China friendly policies could undermine Taiwan's independent sovereignty.

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