Two New Party leaders yesterday formally announced their withdrawal from the President's Advisory Group on Cross-Strait Relations, saying they were disappointed with the group's inability to reach a consensus.
"The meetings of the advisory group spent two months to discuss many issues but failed to reach any resolution," said New Party Convener Hau Lung-pin (
"We were willing to help President Chen decide which direction to go in dealing with cross-strait relations," Hau said.
"After two months, however, we find that this advisory group purposely avoids the topic of the 1992 consensus on `one China with each side having its own interpretation.' Some members only echo the DPP's ideology and President Chen Shui-bian (
Hau said he and New Party Legislator Lai Shih-pao (
"The three parties represent over 60 percent of public opinion, and therefore, the president can't continually avoid discussing the `one China policy' and the `1992 consensus,' Hau said.
Convener of the advisory group Lee Yuan-tseh (
Meanwhile, the advisory group held its fifth meeting yesterday to discuss the "one China policy," but again failed to reach a conclusion after five hours of talks.
The spokesman of the advisory group said he regretted the two New Party representatives' departure, but said a consensus would ultimately be reached.
"The advisory group should transcend political party or individual interests and be concerned about national interests," said Fan Kuang-chun (
"And we still welcome the New Party to return to our advisory group," he said.
DPP representatives in the advisory group, however, criticized the New Party of "manipulating" the cross-strait relations issue.
"Not only do we have an enemy cross the Strait [China] to pressure Taiwan but also a political party that uses cross-strait policy as an excuse to attack the government," said DPP lawmaker Lin Cho-shui (
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