DPP to draft `normal country' clause

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will draft a "resolution on making Taiwan a normal country (正常國家決議文)" next week to replace its current "Resolution on Taiwan's Future (台灣前途決議文)," party officials said yesterday.

The party's "Resolution on Taiwan's Future" was written into the party platform in 1999 to replace the "Taiwan Independence Clause (台獨黨綱)" as part of the party's preparations for the 2000 presidential election.

Before that, the party's stance on national identity was embodied in the 1991 "Taiwan Independence Clause," which set the DPP's goal as pursuing an independent country named the Republic of Taiwan.

Contrary to that clause, the 1999 resolution stated that the party recognized that Taiwan was already an independent country, named the "Republic of China."

The resolution was one of DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun's platforms during his campaign for the party's presidential ticket.

Sources said the resolution would include President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) "four wants, one without." The four wants were independence, rectification of Taiwan's official name, a new constitution and development, while the without refers to Taiwanese politics without a left or right divide, but only unification with China or Taiwanese independence.

Sources said the planned resolution would also focus on Taiwan's participation in international organizations and requests that the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) hand over its stolen assets to the national treasury. The content of the resolution would place emphasis on ensuring Taiwan's sovereignty, sources said.

DPP Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday the party would establish a task force next Wednesday to take charge of the drafting process and it planned to work out the content before June 30, when the party holds its national convention.

When asked whether the resolution would affect DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh's (謝長廷) election chances, Yu said it was the DPP's duty to take care of different political lines within the party, but he hoped people would support and vote for the party's candidate.

"Some people pursue a dream that Taiwan can become a normal country and they have doubts about the `one China' framework. That is an argument that might hinder the DPP's chances of winning the presidential election," Yu said.

Hsieh's staff said he respected the proposal as a sign of good will from Yu.

DPP lawmakers close to Hsieh yesterday remained cautious on the issue.

Legislator Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) said replacing the "Resolution on Taiwan's Future" with a resolution based on Chen's "four wants, one without" was an important issue that should be discussed at the national convention.

Another legislator, Lee Chun-yee (李俊毅), said he approved of the "direction" in pursuing the country's normalization, but added that bringing the "Four Wants, One Without" into any new resolution needed further discussion.

"The first point about Taiwan wanting independence is questionable. Taiwan is already an independent country. That is an undeniable fact," Lee said.

Echoing the concerns of Hsieh-affiliated lawmakers, DPP legislative caucus whip Wang Tuoh (王拓) urged Yu to first consult the president and Hsieh.

"I support the proposal emotionally and subjectively, but as the ruling party, we have to take the international situation into account. It's necessary to consider whether the changes will cause more problems for the president when handling foreign affairs," Wang said.