Lee shocks DPP with China remarks

Speaking at a recent gathering of members of the Taiwan Advocates, a private think tank associated with the pro-independence Taiwan Solidarity Union, Lee asserted that Taiwan and China are friends and any efforts to improve bilateral ties should be welcomed. But in consideration of uncertainty on the part of China, Lee continued, both sides should be clearly distinguished when engaging in any exchanges and cooperation.

In response, Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP said that "China is China, and Taiwan is Taiwan. There should be no room for any ambiguity in this regard." Tsai added that the DPP has long insisted on pursuing balanced ties with countries of the world, rather than with China only.

Former Premier Su Tseng-chang said that Taiwan should not shun or rule out any opportunities to improve ties and exchange with China, but should not forget that China is always intending to "swallow up Taiwan entirely."

Former Chairman Hsu Hsin-liang of the DPP said ex-President Lee's latest views on cross-strait ties constitute heavy pressure on the DPP. "If the DPP fails to take a new approach toward the cross-strait policies, it will be confronted with more challenges ahead.

Chiayi County Magistrate Chen Ming-wen said that the DPP should look at the China issue without bias, and shouldn't be afraid of China as in the past. "Both sides can better understand each other though exchanges, but the DPP shouldn't move to 'please' China as done by the Kuomintang."

Chen Chi-mai, former acting mayor of Kaohsiung City, said that it's unwise of DPP members to engage in exchanges with Chinese government officials for the moment.

Also yesterday, spokesman Cheng Wen-tsan of the DPP, said at a press conference that the DPP itself is in no position to comment on ex-President Lee's new assertions on cross-strait ties, as the party has yet to see the entire remarks made by Lee on the issue.

But Cheng said that if Taiwan and China are friends, then China shouldn't ban Taiwan from making friends with foreign countries or target Taiwan with a gun.

In related news, former Vice President Annette Lu yesterday called for President Ma Ying-jeou to convene a national affairs conference to seek consensus between the ruling and opposition parties on how to develop cross-strait ties, so as to ease the worries of nationals.

Lu issued the call when speaking at a gathering in New York to promote the Formosa Weekly she founded on May 20 this year.

Lu said since Ma took office on May 20, 2008, the distance between Taipei and Beijing is virtually shorter than the distance between the Presidential Office and the headquarters of the DPP, triggering public worries that Taiwan may be "Hongkongized" politically.

Lu continued that the DPP should adopt a new approach to policy toward mainland China, and shouldn't be absent from negotiations on cooperation agreements between both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

On the same occasion, Chen Ching-chun, now chief editorial writer for the Formosa Weekly, also noted that if the DPP fails to come up with clear-cut visions and goals that the public can follow, the party will fail again in the 2012 presidential election.

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