Premier Frank Hsieh (
"If Lien's trip to China is simply for sightseeing purposes, he would be more than welcome to go anywhere to do whatever he wants to do without any authorization. However, if he wishes to represent Taiwan and come up with any agreements with Chinese officials, I hope that he would talk to us before he does," Hsieh said.
"Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice will do its job. Prosecutors will indict a person, no matter who he is, if he breaks the law," he said.
Hsieh made his remarks while Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Kuo-ching (林國慶) was questioning him during a legislative session yesterday morning.
Hsieh said that every Taiwanese person must respect the government and seek authorization or help whenever negotiating or discussing matters that concern the country with a foreign government.
"Even former US president Bill Clinton notifies President George W. Bush if he is simply leaving the country for a trip," the premier said.
"We have a government and laws here. That means everybody should follow and respect them," Hsieh said. "I did not pick up this point about the KMT on purpose. I am just asking him [Lien] to follow and respect our laws, like everybody else."
According to KMT headquarters, Lien's trip to China will be made no later than May 1 and Lien will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) when he arrives in Beijing.
Hsieh's remarks are also a sign that if Lien and Hu come up with an agreement similar to what Chiang and Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Director Chen Yunlin (陳雲林) did, it is possible that prosecutors will begin to investigate him for violating Article 113 of the Criminal Code.
Such a violation is punishable by a jail term of seven years to life.
"As for Chiang's case, I have no comment on it because it is on the prosecutors' plate now and we should let them finish their jobs," Hsieh said. "But I do hope that nobody will repeat the same mistake."
The KMT yesterday said the details and timetable of Lien's trip have not yet been finalized, adding that party Secretary-General Lin Feng-cheng (林豐正) will make a trip next week to discuss the issue.
Lin refused to comment on dates for the trip, saying that the rumored April 30 and May 1 dates were "just what the papers have been saying."
The details have not yet been settled, Lin said while KMT spokesman Chang Jung-kung (張榮恭) added that speculation on the dates was "all wrong."
Lin made his comments at a KMT press conference held yesterday morning to discuss his recent trip with Chang.
While KMT deputy spokeswoman Cheng Li-wen (
Chang said Lin will be going to Beijing next week for further negotiations with the TAO.
Two local Chinese-language newspapers reported yesterday that Lien was planning to spend a week in China, during which he would visit four different cities and meet with Peking University students.
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