The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday rejected an offer from Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), after he appealed directly to the DPP for the first time to give up its stance on independence, offering an olive branch to Taiwanese seeking representation in international bodies.
Hu, in a speech to mark the 30th anniversary of Beijing's “open letter to Taiwanese compatriots,” yesterday called for a pragmatic approach to the political relationship to ease concerns over tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
“As long as the ‘one China’ principle is recognized by both sides ... we can discuss anything,” Hu told a gathering of the Communist Party elite at the Great Hall of the People.
PHOTO: ANDY WONG, AP
If the DPP gives up “splittist activities” and “changes its attitude,” it would elicit a “positive response,” Hu said.
China and Taiwan could at a proper time begin contacts and exchanges on military issues and explore a mechanism to build trust on military matters, Hu said.
He vowed to maintain already flourishing business ties.
In response, the DPP said in a press statement that Taiwan is a sovereign state, and its sovereignty belongs to the nation's 23 million people; hence, Taiwan's future must be decided by its people, which is the DPP’s fundamental position and mainstream public opinion in the country.
In a democracy, nobody has a right to ask people to give up any position. China must recognize that fact, it added.
The statement said the major question between Taiwan and China is not what position the DPP advocates, but what comes to mind when Taiwanese think about China.
Most Taiwanese think of the military threat, diplomatic oppression, the economic draw and the various methods China uses to localize Taiwan's government, it said.
Because China has ignored the real feelings of Taiwanese, it remains impossible for Taiwan and China to develop sincere, harmonious relations, it added.
The statement said if the Chinese government wanted to have talks with the DPP, it should not ask the party to change its position first. Real talks can only be started without any preconditions.
In the speech, Hu also said he understood Taiwan's desire to take part in “international activities,” but stressed that China would not tolerate any move that suggested independence.
“We understand the Taiwanese public's feelings on participating in international activities, and we attach great importance to related issues,” Hu said.
“We can have realistic negotiations to reach a reasonable approach for the issue of Taiwan participating in the activities of international organizations as long as it is not on the premise of two Chinas, or one China, one Taiwan,” he said.
With about 170 diplomatic allies to Taiwan's 23, China has continually blocked Taiwan's bid to join the UN or affiliated organizations.
Today marks the 30th anniversary of the US switching diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China, as well as Beijing's announcement that it would stop shelling Kinmen and that its policy toward Taiwan would shift from “liberation” through military invasion to “peaceful reunification.”
The Presidential Office yesterday welcomed Hu's comments.
“Our cross-strait policy has proved popular and been supported by the Taiwanese public and international community,” Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) said.
However, “we respect different political theories and thinking because Taiwan is a pluralistic and democratic society, and people are entitled to different opinions on Taiwan's future,” Wang said.
As both sides are in a critical stage of political and economic development, Wang said it should be the common interest and wish of the two sides to cherish and consolidate peace in the Taiwan Strait.
Wang also praised Hu's leadership, saying his new approach and practicality had helped promote bilateral ties.
The Mainland Affairs Council yesterday issued a boilerplate response to Hu's comments.
The council issued a statement saying it would study the feasibility of Hu's call on signing a peace agreement and establishing a military confidence building mechanism “when cross-strait relations reach a certain degree.”
“At the moment, economic and cultural exchanges are the issues that concern the people most and urgently need to be dealt with. Positive results will help build the solid foundation of mutual trust,” it said.
The council also called on Beijing to understand the urgency and expectation of Taiwanese who want to participate in the international community.
It urged both sides to “shelve differences and pursue a win-win situation,” saying two sides should concertedly open a new chapter on peaceful development of cross-strait relations.
The statement said that the administration's cross-strait policy is to maintain the so-called “status quo” under the framework of the Republic of China Constitution. In other words, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) will not discuss unification with Beijing during his presidency, nor will he pursue or support de jure Taiwanese independence or use military force to resolve the Taiwan issue, it said.
All cross-strait issues must go through the institutionalized negotiation mechanism and be properly dealt with under the principle of equality and dignity, the statement said.
“The government will insist at the negotiation table that Taiwan is always the focus and public interest comes first,” the statement said. “Cross-strait rapprochement is conducive to peace in the Taiwan Strait, the region and the world.”
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), however, seemed more excited about Hu's talk.
The party issued a statement welcoming Hu's comments, saying the party was glad to see Hu respond positively to its effort to expand Taiwan's international space, establishing a military confidence building mechanism and signing a peace agreement.
Emphasizing that the party attaches great importance to Taiwan's safety, prosperity and dignity, the statement said that the KMT was committed to pursuing the best interest of the Taiwanese and hoped that these goals could be gradually achieved in the foreseeable future.
It also stated that the semi-official negotiation channel was irreplaceable and that the exchange platform between KMT and Chinese Communist Party was an important model.
The KMT admitted that there were some differences that could not be resolved overnight, but said that as long as both sides understand this, put aside differences and create a win-win situation, they would eventually be resolved.
KMT Legislator John Chiang (蔣孝嚴), a former minister of foreign affairs, said he believed Hu was extending goodwill to Taiwan.
“I think Hu mentioned the issue in a bid to show goodwill [to Taiwan] and [tell us that the issue] could be negotiated and reasonably arranged,” Chiang said when asked for comment.
“In the past, similar issues were not negotiable at all,” he said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FLORA WANG
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