Opposition DPP calls for balanced external relations

Tsai made the remarks yesterday at an expanded conference held by the main opposition party to discuss ways of building a consensus on the party's development strategies.

She said there is a need for the island to make clear differentiations between Taiwan and China rather than adopting fuzzy and evasive approaches that prevent people from seeing the differences between the two sides.

Taking unclear positions, making concessions or submitting to a political agenda dictated by China will all harm Taiwan's interests, she said.

Tsai's statements were also made in response to earlier remarks by former President Lee Teng-hui, who said he does not oppose improving relations and deepening cultural interchange between Taiwan and China.

But Lee also expressed his views that Taiwan and China are two distinct sides while remaining friends.

Tsai said she agreed with Lee's call for simultaneous promotion of Taiwan's relations with the U.S. and Japan instead of focusing on the lopsided cultivation of ties with China.

Former Premier Su Tseng-chang also said that Taiwan should not ward off or equivocate with China because of geographical proximity and many other factors.

But the ex-premier said that people in Taiwan should not forget that China is a country that has always sought to consume Taiwan.

Taiwan harbors no hostilities toward any countries, including China, but it is China that is hostile to Taiwan, Su said.

Su also underlined the importance that Taiwan should continue maintaining the close relationships with both the U.S. and Japan. It is important to let the two countries know that the actions taken by Taiwan also conform with their interests, he said.

Hsu Hsin-liang, a former DPP chairman, said former President Lee's stand and opinions of not opposing improvement in the Taiwan-China relations will give great pressure on the DPP.

He said the DPP should seriously think and review its policies concerning issues across the Taiwan Strait. Otherwise, the party will only face greater challenges from more aspects and circles.

When asked if the DPP's possible bungles in its handling the cross-strait policies and affairs would have negative impact on the party's performance in Taiwan elections, Hsu answered that he has always believed so.

Chiayi County Magistrate Chen Ming-wen stated that he has long been backing interchanges between Taiwan and China for further understanding because the DPP cannot keep turning away from the rise of China.

But he said while dealing with China, Taiwan should seek mutual understanding rather than adopting a servile attitude as taken by the ruling Kuomintang.

Chen said he concurs with former President Lee's views of furthering interchanges with China, but Taiwan should not sell its soul for the sake of propping up its economic development.

Taiwan has not yet reached the stage of having to surrender its sovereignty in exchange for China's assistance for rescuing the island's economy, he added.

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