Inaction on direct links criticized

While the government prepares to celebrate its accomplishments in the one year since the Economic Development Advisory Conference (EDAC, 經發會) concluded, the anti-DPP camp nevertheless accuses ruling officials of stalling plans to implement direct transport links with China.

Though many other decisions reached during the conference have been implemented, Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆), former New Party legislator, said in a seminar that he is not satisfied with the results of the past year, since the crucial consensus reached in the conference -- facilitating direct links -- remains on the drawing board.

Lai, currently a business administration professor at National Chengchi University, said: "The government should take the responsibility because direct transport links are the key element to boosting Taiwan's economy."

Echoing Lai's statement, Sisy Chen (陳文茜), the independent lawmaker, said President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) remarks on Aug. 3 that Taiwan and China are "one country on each side" of the Taiwan Strait have ruined possibilities for direct links to be implemented.

"It is impossible for Taiwan to have direct transport links with China as long as Chen Shui-bian is in office. It is impossible for China to agree to have dialogue with the DPP government, especially after President Chen made such reckless remarks," Sisy Chen said.

But ruling officials don't accept the blame for the failure of direct links to be implemented.

Vice Premier Lin Hsin-yi (林信義) retorted by saying the government cannot take full responsibility because cross-strait affairs need negotiation. "We are ready for direct transport links with China. We have a flexible attitude toward this matter. But negotiation is needed," Lin said.

"Direct transport links certainly involve national sovereignty, which definitely needs talks between Taiwan and China. The problem is whether China would like to sit down to talk to Taiwan," said Fu Don-cheng (傅棟成), director of the Mainland Affairs Council's (MAC) department of economic affairs.

Echoing officials' views, Chen Chung-hsin (陳忠信), director of the DPP's Chinese Affairs Department as well as a lawmaker, said he is cautiously optimistic about the materialization of direct links, though he admits that after the president's remarks, the atmosphere for talks between Taiwan and China has gotten "worse."

"I agree that the government has encountered difficulty in implementing direct transportation links.

"But the government should not be blamed ... Instead, China's refusal to cooperate is the key point," Chen Chung-hsin said.

Giving an example, Chen Chung-hsin said Chinese officials did not refuse to talk about the issue even after the president made such remarks.

Chen Yunlin (陳雲林), the director of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said in Beijing on Aug. 22, that "Though Chen's remarks caused tension across the Strait, the two sides still should talk about direct transport links as soon as possible."

From his point of view, Chen Chung-hsin said in the first half of this year, Taiwan and China seem to be getting closer and ready to talk. "The interaction between the two sides earlier this year created a good atmosphere for talks. Though the situation is not as good as before, I believe it is a period of time for observation. We just lack a starting mechanism."