Official downplays Chen-Ma meeting

Presidential Office Secretary-General Mark Chen (陳唐山) yesterday tried to downplay the meeting between President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) today, saying that it was a democratic norm for the president to meet with opposition leaders.

"The president is happy to see Chairman Ma and hear his suggestions," Mark Chen said. "It is normal and natural for the president to meet with opposition leaders in a democratic country and exchange ideas."

Mark Chen said that he was not sure exactly what topics the pair would discuss.

The Presidential Office announced yesterday that the president would be accompanied by Mark Chen and Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), while Ma would bring KMT Secretary-General Chan Chun-po (詹春柏) and KMT Chinese Affairs Department Director Chang Jung-kung (張榮恭) to the meeting.

Both sides have agreed that no gifts will be presented during the meeting, which will be broadcast live. Neither will they sign any joint statement nor hold a joint press conference afterward.

While the meeting has drawn much media attention, Chen Shui-bian and Ma do not seem to be optimistic about the event, the first of its kind since Ma took over the helm of the nation's biggest opposition party.

While the president has said that he was curious about and looked forward to hearing Ma's suggestions, he hinted that some of Ma's proposals made him wonder whether they were too naive or merely wishful thinking.

Ma has also said that it was right not to have high hopes for the meeting.

Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) yesterday acknowledged Ma's performance in the US, but expressed the hope that he would tell the president about his US trip in full detail so the public could judge whether Ma, a likely presidential candidate, had any credibility.

"I hope that the two most powerful leaders of the ruling and opposition parties will put national interests first when they exchange opinions [today] and help to produce a better political atmosphere than currently exists," she said.

Lu made the remarks while addressing a conference called "Taiwan Go, Go, Go" in Taichung yesterday afternoon. Lu's speech, "Seeing Through Taiwan-China Relations," focused on China's military buildup, its hostility toward Taiwan and ambition to dominate the Asia-Pacific region.

Commenting on Ma's US trip, Lu said the public must not look at it from a negative perspective as long as it produces a positive effect and helps promote Taiwan.

Lu, however, said she was sorry that Ma had been reluctant to talk about Taiwan's democracy during his trip because he was "afraid of democracy, afraid of Taiwan and afraid of China."

As China did not hinder Ma's US trip, Lu said she hoped Beijing would do the same when the president goes overseas next month.