Presidential Office Secretary-General Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟) yesterday said that the issue of whether to change the official designation and flag of the country should be open for discussion as such an issue should not be considered a taboo in a democracy.
Chen said the ROC flag "does not equal" the ROC.
For those people who love Taiwan, their love is for this land and the ROC is only its designation "at this stage," Chen added.
But Chen's remarks sparked strong criticism from opposition lawmakers, who called Chen a traitor and an "infiltrator sent by the Chinese Communists."
Chen made the remarks in a meeting of the legislature's Organic Laws and Statutes Committee, where he was asked by KMT Legislator Hung Chiu-chu (
King, well-known for her pro-independence views, told a campaign rally for the TSU's Kaohsiung City Council deputies Sunday night that she finds the sight of the ROC flag offensive.
Hung said that King's remarks were inappropriate given her position.
Chen, however, disagreed. Chen told the legislator that he was deeply impressed with King's contribution to Taiwan's democratic development and the articles she has released in Japan in support of Taiwan.
Annoyed by Chen's reply, Hung raised her voice and said that King's comment indicated she intends to "wipe out the Republic of China."
Citing President Chen Shui-bian's (
Chen Shih-meng objected, saying "the ROC should not be synonymous with the ROC flag."
This explanation drew an even stronger reaction from Hung. The legislator pounded the podium and called Chen Shih-meng a traitor.
Unlike Hung, Chen Shih-meng remained calm throughout the conversation.
Chen Shih-meng said he guessed King's feelings about the ROC flag stemmed from its similarity to the KMT flag.
He said Taiwan should consider changing its flag since the KMT is no longer the amaranthine, or eternal, ruler of the country.
Chen Shih-meng later told reporters that the designation of any country is changeable.
While the national flag and designation usually carry some historic significance, it is normal in a democratic country that some people will have different opinions as times change, Chen Shih-meng said.
Yesterday's meeting was originally scheduled to review proposed amendments to the Organic Law of the Presidential Office and another law governing the privileges for retired presidents and vice presidents.
The amendments were designed to cut the retirement benefits enjoyed by presidents and vice presidents and change the positions of senior adviser to the president and national policy adviser to honorary posts without pay.
Supporters of the amendments, including KMT Legislator Alex Tsai (蔡正元) and DPP Legislator Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康), argued that the positions were first made available during the former KMT government as a reward to party loyalists, and that the DPP government should not follow suit and should stop paying the advisers.
Chen Shih-meng, however, dismissed the lawmakers' proposal as ridiculous and unreasonable.
He said that under the DPP government the people who occupy the positions of adviser are those who have made contributions to the country and it is therefore legitimate for the Presidential Office to maintain the system.
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