Amid the cheers of nearly 10,000 supporters, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) opened his national re-election campaign headquarters yesterday, stressing the issue of cross-strait peace while accusing his main opponent of constantly changing her China policy, which he said could jeopardize the nation’s future.
Aside from mentioning his achievements in economic, cross-strait and diplomatic issues, Ma, the candidate for the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), spent nearly a quarter of his speech attacking Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
Saying that Tsai, the DPP’s presidential candidate, has proposed to gradually structure a “stable and peaceful interactive cross-strait structure,” in her party’s 10-year policy statement Ma said: “Who was it that said a cross-strait peace accord is a serious and dangerous question? Why is it that when Tsai says she would do it, it is alright. But when I say it, it is very serious, very dangerous?”
Photo: Patrick Lin, AFP
“Which is the real Tsai, then? If her statements change so quickly, how do we know what she is thinking? Does she even know what her own thoughts are? Can the direction of the nation be changed like this? Would such wavering policies take the country toward a dangerous situation?” Ma said.
Ma said peace across the Taiwan Strait was what everyone wished for and preparations have to be made toward that end, adding that the termination of the Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of Communist Rebellion (動員戡亂時期臨時條款) 20 years ago signaled that Taiwan did not wish to use force to resolve cross-strait issues.
“We therefore also hope that China agrees not to use force to resolve the issue,” Ma said.
In his speech, Ma also rejected repeated accusations by Tsai that he was surrendering Taiwan to China, while charging that the public was unclear about Tsai’s China policy.
“Most people in Taiwan are familiar with my cross-strait policy of no unification, no independence and no use of force,” he said.
Ma stressed that peace accords are not the property of any political party.
Saying his deceased kin were buried in Taiwan, Ma added that he believed all Taiwanese, like him, know that “the Republic of China [ROC] is our country and Taiwan is our home. Taiwan and the ROC can no longer be separated and I hope no one will continue to try to separate the two and cause conflict.”
Former vice president Lien Chan (連戰) said at the same event that next year’s presidential election was key to the nation’s future.
In the face of international challenges, such as the sluggish global economy, Lien said the country needed people with vision to lead it and Ma and his running mate, Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義), were those visionary leaders.
Lien also took the opportunity to praise Ma for making a possible signing of a peace pact with China part of his “golden decade” plans.
“This [talking of peace] is a visionary act,” Lien said.
“What’s wrong with seeking peace?” Lien said in response to the DPP’s criticism that the consideration of a peace agreement represented a step toward cross-strait unification.
Supporters attending the ceremony were encouraged by Ma’s campaign to wear or carry ROC national flags to create a “festive atmosphere.”
Ma’s national campaign headquarters is located in the Central Pictures Corp Bade Building in Taipei, which is also the original location of the Ma re-election campaign office.
The KMT headquarters situated next door has also decorated the building’s exterior by wrapping it in the image of the ROC national flag, in sync with Ma’s campaign theme.
Additional reporting by CNA
Translated by Jake Chung, Staff writer
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