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Parties unite against `anti-secession' law

The legislature yesterday united to issue a joint resolution urging China to rethink its proposed "anti-secession" law, while the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucuses called on people to demonstrate their disapproval of the law in rallies today.

"Peaceful development is not just a common value shared by the international community but is also the common wish of people on either side of the [Taiwan] Strait," the resolution reads. "Given that Beijing is drafting its `anti-secession' law, we must solemnly state this: Should the contents of the proposed law go against the rights of the Taiwanese people, it will arouse strong opposition ... Beijing should think twice before acting."

The four-point statement issued by the legislature was the result of cross-party negotiations yesterday afternoon.

In addition to its call to China to reconsider passing the bill, the statement also affirmed that the Republic of China has been an independent country since its founding and that any actions downplaying its status are a departure from the consensus of the Taiwanese people and the international community. Furthermore, the resolution also stated that given the friendly atmosphere signified by the recent Lunar New Year cross-strait charter flights, both China and Taiwan should open mutually-beneficial negotiations and included a promise that governing and opposition parties here will push through policies to help further cross-strait peace.

Speaking about the legislature's resolution yesterday morning, Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) said that while the governing and opposition camps may disagree on many issues, all of Taiwan's political parties and governmental agencies are united on the issue of the anti-secession law.

"I hope that China does not misjudge the situation and make a decision that will harm the stability of the Taiwan Strait," Hsieh said.

Apart from uniting the legislature against it yesterday, the anti-secession law also yesterday mended some fences between the DPP and its ally the TSU.

The TSU recently expressed its sense of betrayal and discontent with the DPP because of President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) recent meeting with opposition party People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜). The TSU has also called for disillusioned DPP members to join its ranks, a move which has attracted DPP enmity.

But yesterday the two parties held a joint press conference urging the public to attend events in Kaohsiung and Taipei tomorrow to express their disapproval of the Chinese law. The TSU will be holding an "anti-annexation" parade in Kaohsiung tomorrow afternoon, the party said yesterday, while the DPP will hold a "Defend Taiwan, Oppose Annexation" rally.

Speaking on the steps of the legislature yesterday morning, TSU Legislator Lo Chih-ming (羅志明) urged both pan-blue and pan-green camp supporters and leaders to attend the rallies.

"We need to resolve differences and opposition and speak out against China's draft anti-secession law," Lo said, adding that he hopes that Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) will attend tomorrow's events.

But the KMT rejected the TSU's and DPP's invitation yesterday, saying that while the party opposes the anti-secession law, it will not be attending the rallies.

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