Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) yesterday unveiled his "Taiwan Interests Theory" (台灣利益論), which promotes harmony among different ethnic groups, the "Republic of China" as the national title and that the issue of independence or reunification be left to posterity to resolve.
"Ask not what political post you can obtain; ask what you can do for your party and your country," Wang said, adapting the famed words of former US president John F. Kennedy, when asked about his future ambitions during a discussion of his ideas.
Wang said the theory was his contribution to his party and the country.
"Ever since the presidential election, Taiwan has become a `twin peak society' with a high degree of tension between ethnic groups.
"There is no middle-way force to balance society, which is unfortunate for the country. That is why I am proposing this theory," Wang said.
In the theory, Wang says that all five ethnic groups -- Mainlanders, Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese), Hakka, Aborigines and new immigrants by marriage -- should respect each other in the pursuit of harmony.
With regard to national identity, Wang said that the "Republic of China" is the national title that has most people's support and that the nation should continue to pursue awareness of its sovereignty in the ongoing creation of a "middle-way" society.
Wang said that the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is in fact a "middle-way" party and the force of the "middle way" should be allowed to gather momentum.
"We should maintain the status quo with regard to cross-strait relations and we should promote economic cooperation instead of political disputes. The issue of independence and reunification should be left to posterity to decide," Wang said.
Wang said that the nation should strive to globalize while adding local color to the process.
He also said Taiwan should join more international economic networks to avoid the problem of being marginalized.
Wang quoted poll figures which he said showed an investigation into the March 19 shooting of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) should proceed to safeguard Taiwan's democratic values.
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