Vagueness over China policy bad for Soong

A recent poll conducted by a Chinese-language newspaper indicates that KMT presidential candidate Lien Chan (連戰) leads in national security and cross-strait policies while independent candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜) gets top marks for administrative capability and DPP candidate Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) gets top marks for having the ability to fight "black gold."

The survey basically matches up to reality. However, instead of improving on their weaknesses, the candidates merely use the survey to launch another war of words.

The KMT's China policy premise is "unification," while the DPP's is "no unification." The DPP's premise is so obvious that even though the party has toned down its China policy, making it actually milder than the KMT's, the Beijing government certainly won't accept it.

Why are the KMT and the DPP both criticizing Soong for having ambiguous China policies?

Soong takes "special relations (特殊關係)" from the KMT and "mutual non-subordination (互不隸屬)" from the DPP to create his China policies without a premise of his own. Moreover, Soong's China policies are made by his think tank -- Shao Tsung-hai (紹宗海), Chang Lin-cheng (張麟徵) and Yang Kai-huang (楊開煌) who are all pro-unification scholars. No wonder many have cast doubt on Soong's position.

President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), who may have based his speculation on the above factors, was probably referring to Soong when he said that "someone" is going to betray Taiwan. However, for the president to label a political adversary as a "red" smacks of political persecution. This contradicts democratic principles. Lee is known as "Mr Democracy." It is ironic for a Mr Democracy to go against democracy.

However, it is necessary for the Soong camp to make their China policies clear, for this is a matter of great concern for all Taiwanese citizens. It does not matter whether his premise is conditional unification, like the KMT's, or unconditional unification.

The New Party has put forward its pro-unification position, and the party's candidate Lee Ao (李敖) has gone so far as to support "one country, two systems." So what?

No matter what you believe, it is best just to speak out. Evading issues will not help Soong's popularity. With his current high support rate and charisma, by speaking out, Soong could well change people's preconceived ideas and become a true opinion leader.

Pu Ta-chung is a deputy chief editorial writer at the China Times.