The cross-party task force which President Chen Shui-bian (
"This framework can only be formed after domestic consensus has been reached," sources from the Presidential Office said. "President Chen hopes the task force can build a concrete framework which will become the standard for dealing with cross-strait affairs for the next five to 10 years."
The establishment of a cross-party task force was one of Chen's campaign promises. Lee said that he is confident he will be able to lead his team in successfully restoring dialogue between Taiwan and China, which was terminated when former President Lee Teng-hui (
Sources also revealed that the composition of the task force still remained undecided because of differences of opinion between the Presidential Office and Lee Yuan-tseh.
A Presidential Office official told the Taipei Times that Lee insisted all major political parties should be invited to join the task force as a symbol of national reconciliation. However, vice secretary-general of the National Security Council Chiou I-jen (
"The capabilities of the task force members is more important than their positions," a Presidential Office official told the Taipei Times.
"Officials said that President Chen authorized Chiou to decide the list but Chiou was worried that clashes of ideology would be a barrier to the task force in passing any concrete resolutions," the official added.
"It could turn out just like the National Unification Council (NUC), when President Lee invited a lot of political heavyweights from different parties to be council members, but then never adopted any of their suggestions," the official said.
The make-up of the task force is still under discussion and will be revealed at the beginning of July. Sources said that the list will be composed of 20 to 30 people, most of whom will come from academic and civilian circles.
Scholars who may be invited include Byron Weng (
Government officials will also join the task force, such as the chairwoman of Mainland Affairs Council Tsai Ing-wen (
"As to the parties' representatives, Lee needs more time to discuss this with Chiou," sources said.
Meanwhile, the Legislative Yuan's plan to establish its own cross party task force fell apart when negotiations to set it up failed on Friday.
Presidential Office officials say that President Chen is considering inviting the legislative caucus leaders of all the major parties to become members of the task force.
DPP lawmaker Parris Chang (
"President Chen should give Lee total discretion in deciding the direction of the task force," Chang said. "After all, its only role is to act as an advisory body. It does not have any power to make policy."
However, Chang is not optimistic about the ability of the task force to reach a consensus in the short term.
"Lee should realize that he has lost influence and trust from the Beijing government since he supported Chen during the presidential campaign," said Chang.
"There are two factors in the international arena that need to be taken into account which will influence the effectiveness of the task force, namely the summit meeting of Chinese leaders at Beidaihe (
"Before these two events have taken place, it will be difficult to build any basis for the restoration of dialogue between both sides of the Taiwan Strait," he added.
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