A top cross-strait policy planner blamed "certain people" yesterday for cooperating with Chinese authorities, a move which she said has hamstrung the government on cross-strait issues.
"The authority of the government might be threatened by business interests or interference from political parties and this is the most difficult part when dealing with cross-strait affairs," said Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
Tsai made the remarks in the DPP's two-day administrative reform seminar, which began yesterday, but did not specifically identify to whom she was referring.
In her report prepared for the national security panel discussion, she said that if cross-strait talks were conducted by private groups on each side of the Strait as China required, it would be easy for China to manipulate the process. She questioned whether private organizations can adequately represent the government.
Tsai also said that one of the biggest difficulties in dealing with cross-strait affairs is forging a consensus among various groups. She said the reasons for this are different stances toward independence and political parties' intention to lead the cross-strait agenda.
Though talks between Taiwan and China made progress over the issue of charter flights and President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) expressed hope in his New Year Day's speech that cross-strait ties will improve through dialogue, Tsai warned that China's recent call to resume cross-strait talks over direct transport links under the "one China" principle has a political purpose.
She said that China wishes to turn talks between private groups into a form of official cross-strait negotiation which would put the Taiwan government at risk of losing its sovereignty and dignity.
Even though Taiwan and China remain at odds in the political arena, their strong economic bonds make for a complex relationship, Tsai said, adding that no one denies China has become an economic power.
Tsai pledged to adjust the government's cross-strait policies gradually, but said the policy-making process should be cautious.
Facing criticism over the government's conservative attitude to opening up cross-strait trade, Tsai said an over-reliance on the Chinese market should be avoided by controlling the speed of trade exchanges.
"We should approach mainland policy with a prudent attitude," Tsai said.
Analyzing China's policy toward Taiwan, Tsai said Chinese authorities have strengthened their efforts to maintain tight connections with the US, something which could impact the US' attitude toward Taiwan.
"We should bring the cross-strait issue to the international community to reduce China's influence in the world," she said.
Tsai said approving changes to the Statute Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (兩岸人民關係條例) is crucial for ensuring that Taiwan takes the lead in cross-strait exchanges over the next few years.
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