Lien bemoans Chen's policies to US senators

KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday complained to a delegation of US senators that former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) are creating misgivings in the cross-strait relations.

The government would stir unnecessary conflict and tension across the Taiwan Strait with its backing of a march next month in support of a change in the nation's name, said KMT spokesman Alex Tsai (蔡正元), recounting Lien's remarks to the delegation led by Senate Majority leader Bill Frist when it visited the KMT's headquarters.

"I am worried about this march because the event is also endorsed by the DPP administration, whose chairman is President Chen," Tsai quoted Lien as saying.

The march, dubbed "511 Parade for Rectifying the Name of Taiwan," is being organized by the Alliance to Campaign for Rectifying the Name of Taiwan (台灣正名運動聯盟) in a bid to promote a name change to help the country assert its place in the international community.

The DPP said it shares the organization's desire to change the nation's name from "Republic of China" to "Taiwan."

The party announced late last month that it's members would join the May 11 rally and said that it was willing to endorse the activity and provide assistance, if needed.

According to Tsai, Lien stressed that although the KMT is against an independent Taiwan, the party is also against "a rapid unification with China."

What the KMT upholds, he quoted Lien as saying, is the "1992 consensus," which posits that there is "one China, with each side having its own interpretation."

Discussing next year's presidential election, Lien said that cross-strait affairs, Taiwan's economy and social matters would be the three main campaign issues.

The KMT leader criticized the DPP administration's performance, saying that it had led Taiwan into soaring unemployment and a wider gap between rich and the poor.

He also said it had impeded cross-strait relations with its "cold-shoulder" attitude toward China- related issues.

"If I am elected, I will deal with the cross-strait issue in an active manner," Tsai quoted Lien as telling his visitors.

Frist's eight-member bipartisan delegation arrived in Taiwan on Friday after visiting Japan and South Korea and left for Beijing yesterday. During its visit, the delegation met with Chen to express gratitude "for Taiwan's support of the international coalition's effort to free the Iraqi people."