Legislator says Deng's son may visit

Deng Pufang (鄧樸方), the son of China's late leader Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平), would likely be allowed to visit Taiwan if he applies for a visa, officials said yesterday.

KMT Legislator Shyu Jong-

shyong (徐中雄) yesterday led the representatives of several of Tai-wan's non-government organizations which work with disabled people on a visit to their Chinese counterparts.

Deng, a former chairman of the China Disabled Person's Federation, was invited by Shyu to visit Taiwan at the beginning of next year.

Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Vice Chairman Chen Ming-tong (陳明通) yesterday confirmed that Shyu spoke with him before he left last week for China about a possible visit by Deng.

Chen said Deng had applied to visit Taiwan a few years ago when the KMT was still in power and the government had agreed to his trip. But Deng never made the journey.

"There should be no problems for him to come to Taiwan if he applies [for a visa]," Chen said, adding that since Deng no longer holds any government posts, "as long as he is eligible for a cross-strait specialist exchanges, we would not treat him differently."

Shyu said Deng had told him that it was a dream of his "to stand on the land of Taiwan."

But he added that the decision was Deng's to make, since Taiwan's government accepts the idea of a visit.