DPP official visits Beijing

The DPP's top official in charge of China policy yesterday visited Beijing -- a trip widely seen as a breakthrough in relations.

Seeking to downplay the significance of his visit, Chen Chung-hsin (陳忠信) yesterday said that he was visiting in his capacity as a private citizen and that the purpose of his trip was "to exchange views with academics belonging to Chinese think tanks."

After attending a seminar held by the Chinese International Strategic Research Center, Chen told the media that there would be no formal meetings with Chinese officials and denied speculation that the visit was a special mission ordered by the president.

But an Associated Press report cited a government official as saying that Chen will likely meet with Vice Premier Qian Qichen (錢其琛) and officials of China's Taiwan Affairs Office.

Chen, along with some 20 lawmakers and academics from across party lines, arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a five-day visit.

Chen said he has been to China on many occasions, but was surprised to get permission for this trip given that China has refused to deal with DPP officials.

Stressing that the trip is for academic exchanges, Chen said engaging in this sort of communication will help promote understanding between the two sides, adding that the Chinese authorities value academics' opinions.

DPP Deputy Secretary-General Michael You (游盈隆) said yesterday that he had no knowledge of Chen's visit and that the trip has nothing to do with the party.

Other members of the group include DPP lawmaker Chiu Tai-san (邱太三), former vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council Cheng An-kuo (鄭安國), EuroAsia Education Foundation deputy executive Tung Li-wen (董立文) and Tien Jiun-mei (田君美), the director of cross-strait economic studies at the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research.

China stopped communicating with the DPP government after it took power in May 2000 because of the party's support for Taiwan independence, disregarding President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) goodwill gestures.

In July last year when Chen Shui-bian assumed the party's chairmanship, he sent another goodwill gesture to Beijing by picking Chen Chung-hsin, considered a moderate who favors stronger economic ties with China, to be responsible for cross-strait affairs.

However, frustrated by China's lack of response and angered by its efforts to limit Taiwan's space in the international community, President Chen dealt a blow to relations one month later when he described Taiwan and China "one country on each side of the Taiwan Strait."

A frequent visitor to China before he took the position at the DPP, Chen Chung-hsin hasn't set foot in the country since.

Lawmakers' visits to China during the legislative recess have been common, but the trips are usually by opposition lawmakers.

Trips by DPP officials are seen as the result of Beijing having come to realize that any progress on cross-strait relations will require communication with the party.

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