The legislature yesterday adopted a resolution to cover Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Wang Yu-chi’s (王郁琦) upcoming trip to China that drew a red line in defense of the nation’s sovereignty and right to self-determination.
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said the resolution, which was attached to the central government budget bill that was passed by the legislature yesterday, has the same legal effect as a bill that has been passed.
Negotiations have been under way to have Wang Yu-chi meet his Chinese counterpart, Taiwan Affairs Office Director Zhang Zhijun (張志軍), in China next month and for Zhang to make a return visit at a later date.
Photo: CNA
The meetings are part of Taipei and Beijing’s efforts to institutionalize cross-strait interactions and replace the semi-official channels between the Straits Exchange Foundation and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits.
The Democratic Progressive Party and the Taiwan Solidarity Union jointly initiated the resolution, citing concern about the political agenda of President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration in his remaining time in office.
The resolution stipulates that during his trip to China Wang Yu-chi may not sign any document or issue a joint statement of any kind that accepts or echoes Beijing’s claim of a “one China” framework or its opposition to Taiwanese independence that could endanger the nation’s sovereignty.
If he fails to abide by the resolution, the legislature will hold him politically responsible.
The resolution also stipulates that the minister should also not engage in any talks with Chinese officials on issues related to “one China,” a “one China” framework, “one China, two systems,” a “military mutual-trust mechanism,” a “peace agreement” or “interim political relationships” and that he should not sign any documents or press statements regarding those subjects.
In addition, he must report to the legislature on his trip and meeting with Zhang upon his return to Taiwan.
Wang Yu-chi briefed lawmakers on his upcoming trip during a closed-door meeting on Friday last week.
That same day, the council promised that Wang Yu-chi would not discuss politically sensitive issues during the trip or repeat claims related to the “one China” framework.
Additional reporting by staff writer and CNA
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