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Tsai downplays name-change call

Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen answers questions at a meeting of the Legislative Yuan's Home and Nations Committee yesterday. PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES

Mainland Affairs Council Chair-woman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday said that recent remarks made by former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) would not be a factor upsetting the stability of cross-strait relations as long as the government followed the law and that China comprehends Taiwan is a democratic society which allows freedom of speech.

In a speech to the annual meeting of the World Taiwanese Congress last Saturday Lee called on Taiwanese to forge a new Constitution and change the nation's name from Republic of China to Taiwan.

His remarks sparked an uproar in the political arena and were the focal point of discussion at the Legislative Yuan's Home and Nations Committee yesterday, during which numerous lawmakers raised the issue and asked Tsai to comment on Lee's statements.

"The main goal of the government at the present stage is to uphold peace and stability in cross-strait relations," said Tsai.

She stressed that all the government's policies would proceed with this objective.

"What took place a couple of days ago was a solitary case. We are a democratic society and we can not keep anyone from voicing diverse opinions."

Tsai Ing-wen, chairwoman of the Mainland Affairs Council

"What took place a couple of days ago was a solitary case," said Tsai, referring to Lee's statement.

"We are a democratic society and we cannot keep anyone from voicing diverse opinions," she said, adding that she hoped that China would understand the fact that freedom to voice various opinions is part of this nation's democratic development.

When pressed by lawmakers such as PFP Legislator Lee Ching-hua (李慶華) and colleague Sun Ta-chian (孫大千) to state that whether or not she agreed with Lee's remarks, Tsai didn't address the question directly but stressed that she follows two principles in her capacity as the council chief.

"First, all issues relating to cross-strait affairs will be dealt with according to the nation's Constitution and law," she said.

"Second, the government's policy has been consistent, which is the necessity to uphold peace and stability in cross-strait relations," she said.

Noting that the Constitution would need to be amended in order to rename the country, Tsai said that the question of a name change is one that should be determined and decided by the people through democratic means.

"China should respect decisions made by the Taiwan populace if, in the future, the people make a decision on the issue of independence versus unification through democratic means," Tsai said.

Opposition lawmakers also grilled Tsai on the reasons behind the delay in releasing an evaluation report on the proposed opening of direct transport links.

The report lists the possible national security implications, economic impact, technical problems as well as the advantages and disadvantages that each side of the Strait might encounter if direct transport links were established.

She offered an apology for the delay in issuing the report.

"The council has finalized the evaluation report and is waiting for an appropriate time to disclose it to the public when the international situation has become clearer and more stable " said Tsai, referring to the possibility of a war against Iraq and the threat to regional security posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

"After the situation in these two regions become clearer, the report will be released after the council makes the necessary adjustments and revisions," she said.
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