DPP appointee sees little change to China policy

The Legislative Yuan is scheduled to review draft amendments to the Statute Governing Relations between the People of Taiwan Area and Mainland Area (兩岸人民關係條例) that may pave the way for "direct links" between Taiwan and China when the lawmaking body reconvenes in September.

Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen (錢其琛) has also invited DPP officials to visit the mainland in "appropriate capacities."

Pragmatism

Chen Chung-hsin, however, dis-missed talk that the government is extensively changing its China policies.

"While formal communication across the Strait has come to a standstill, we have to find a way, in any pragmatic way possible, to break the ice," he said.

"The bottom line, however, is to resume dialogue and interaction to reach the ultimate goal of political stability."

He also proposed changing the party's rules that force party members wanting to visit China to visit in the capacity of a DPP party member.

"The rule definitely deserves further discussion," he said.

Chin Heng-wei (金恆煒), a political observer and editor in chief of Contemporary magazine who also served as Chen Chung-hsin's editor when he was writing weekly political columns for the Chinese-language China Times, said that Chen was a very talented writer.

"I remember he was fired one day after joining the paper as the editor of the international desk because of his involvement in the Formosa Incident," he said. "Since he's so talented, I hired him immediately afterward."