The pro-independence camp's reaction to President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) national address was negative yesterday, with many seeing his speech as making concessions to Beijing prompted by unrealistic expectations of a favorable response. Were cross-strait negotiations to resume as Chen hopes, the president was advised to hold on to Taiwan-centered stances.
Chen said yesterday in his address that he would like to "take the initiative to propose that both sides use the basis of the 1992 meeting in Hong Kong, to seek possible schemes that are not necessarily perfect but acceptable, as preparation for a step forward in the resumption of dialogue and consultation."
PHOTO: WANG YI-SUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
"I expect that Beijing will only give the cold shoulder once more to President Chen's proposal since the 1992 meeting in Hong Kong did not reach any consensus and how could it become a basis for the negotiation?" Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) caucus leader Chen Chien-ming (陳建銘) said yesterday.
"The president didn't come up with much that was original in his speech as he promised over the past week," Chen Chien-ming said. "I don't think you could call it progress for Taiwan to participate in international society as long as we can't use the new national title "Taiwan" even though we've expressed our goodwill to Beijing."
Chen Chien-ming added that the president's speech might be intended to appeal to middle-of-the-road floating voters.
TSU Legislator Cheng Cheng-lung (程振隆) pointed out that Beijing had not responded in kind to the goodwill that President Chen has shown in cross-strait relations since his May 20 inauguration speech.
"On the contrary, Beijing has spared no efforts to suppress Taiwan in all kinds of international situations, which proves that the president's unilateral good intentions cannot give forward momentum to cross-strait relation," Chen said. "It will be dangerous for us if negotiations are not based on mutual equality."
Ruan Ming (阮銘), a former special assistant to the late general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Hu Yaobang (
"Taiwan should not harbor unrealistic expectations toward the Chinese regime. It is in vain to show goodwill to China as Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) will certainly continue the former president and military chief Jiang Zemin's (江澤民) `peaceful unification under one China, two systems' and `anti-Taiwan's independence' policies," Ruan said.
Ruan pointed out that there is no need for the both sides to go backwards to the circumstances of the 1992 meeting in Hong Kong since interaction across the Strait has gained a lot of ground over the past decade.
"There was no consensus reached in the 1992 meeting," Ruan said. "The feasible solution to the cross-strait impasse is to practically enhance actual interactions in business and culture between both sides," Ruan said.
Lee Shiao-feng (李筱峰), history professor in Shih Hsin University, also an advocate of Taiwan's independence, said that it was a great concession for the president to propose to take the 1992 meeting in Hong Kong as the basis for the reopening of cross-strait talks.
However, Lee did not blame the president too much, saying the pro-independence groups have become accustomed to Chen Shui-bian's conservative stance on Taiwan independence and understand his difficulty since he is the president of Taiwan.
"No matter how much the president yielded to his original promises, we [independence advocates] will continue to work on our goals of making a new constitution and winning a new official title for Taiwan," Lee said. "We will never forgo our insistence on Taiwan-centered consciousness when it comes to negotiation."
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