The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday reacted strongly to President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) revelation in an interview that he was ready to engage in political talks with Beijing once economic issues are resolved, saying that such a move did not have public support.
Not only are Taiwanese opposed to the idea, DPP spokesperson Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) said, but they also have little confidence the president could protect Taiwan’s sovereignty in the process.
“The DPP’s position is that any cross-strait talks cannot include -political preconditions,” he said.
One of the preconditions the opposition party would vehemently oppose is the “one China” principle, he said, which Beijing invariably imposes.
On Ma’s remarks that economic issues would be prioritized before political talks could commence, Lin said it was too early to tell whether Taiwan’s economy had rebounded.
Living conditions have yet to improve and many families still face a lot of financial pressure, he said.
“Add this to still high unemployment figures that are showing no signs of going down and you see that not many people have confidence in the president,” he said.
As a result, he said Ma’s remarks in the interview were empty and a distraction from the larger economic issues.
“Under such circumstances, there is [no way] the president can begin political negotiations with Beijing,” Lin said.
At a different setting yesterday, where Ma addressed topics the DPP identified as concerning, the president said he was in no hurry to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), saying it was more important for both sides to build mutual trust before moving to more complicated matters, such as establishing a military confidence-building mechanism (CBM).
“What is the point of meeting if we haven’t done our homework?” he said. “If we don’t do our homework, it’s better not to meet at all.”
Although cross-strait CBMs are important — especially on military matters — what is even more important is that both sides build mutual trust, Ma said, adding that the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) had a good effect in that regard.
Ma said he understood “some people” had doubts about engaging China and so the speed at which relations are improved with Beijing need not be increased.
His administration would continue to tackle the easier economic issues before moving toward more difficult and political issues, he said.
“It is a long road to build more mutual trust,” Ma said. “We will proceed gradually and steadily.”
What his administration was trying to achieve, Ma said, was to make up for the “lost eight years” under the DPP administration.
Ma said the fact that no system was in place between the two “economic entities” was “beyond comprehension.”
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS