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Cross-strait visits must adhere to law: Presidential Office

Cross-strait exchanges should abide by the law, which states that no political parties, groups or individuals have the right to represent the Taiwanese people or replace the government's authority, the Presidential Office said.

This was one issue in a seven-point conclusion announced by the Presidential Office late on Tuesday night, after a meeting convened by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) with high-ranking officials from the Executive Yuan, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the DPP caucus.

Presidential Office Secretary-General Yu Shyi-kun said the meeting concluded that as cross-strait affairs are related to national sovereignty and the exercise of the government's authority, anyone who reaches an agreement with foreign governments, the other side of the Taiwan Strait, or the envoys they dispatch, will be dealt with according to the law.

"No political parties, groups or individuals have the right to represent the Taiwanese people or replace the government's authority," Yu said, adding that, "Cross-strait exchanges should abide by the law."

The seven-point conclusion comes in the wake of a visit to China by the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). During the visit a 10-point agreement was established between the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regarding trade, agriculture, tourism and the protection of China-based Taiwanese businessmen.

Tuesday night's meeting also concluded that the overall interests of the nation and the well-being of the people come above the interests of political parties, especially regarding cross-strait contacts, dialogue and consultation, which should require a consensus to be reached among the political parties and the general public to best protect the nation's interests.

"President Chen is willing to meet with leaders from the governing and opposition parties so as to prevent a craze of China fever from undermining Taiwan's dignity and interests," Yu said.

Reiterating Chen's earlier comments that "the biggest difference between the two sides of the Strait is not the separate governments, but democracy vs. authoritarianism," the conclusion stated that "if Beijing really wants to close the gap between the peoples on both sides, it should not try to lure Taiwan with small favors under its undemocratic system."

Only the 23 million people of Taiwan have the right to decide the fate of the nation and the Beijing authorities should address and respect the will of the majority of people on Taiwan, the agreement said.

Additionally, cross-strait differences should be resolved peacefully through dialogue and that the choice and free will of the Taiwanese people should be respected, the conclusion said, adding that the government will base cross-strait relations on the principle of "reconciliation without flinching and steadfastness instead of confrontation."

The conclusion also stressed that the government should not ignore "effective management" and said the national security and administrative agencies should adjust related trade policy.

On issues related to cross-strait agriculture and the service sectors, the government should conduct consultations under the framework of the WTO, the conclusion said.

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