His recent trip to China was made "in the economic interest of the Taiwanese people," said Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Vice Chairman Chiang Pin-kun (江丙坤) yesterday, adding that he does not believe that there was any conflict between the KMT's long-time Republic of China stance and its collaborative efforts with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
During an interview with the local television network China Television Company (CTV) yesterday afternoon, Chiang talked about the 10-point CCP-KMT agreement, the invitation to KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) to visit China and the ensuing controversy that his recently-concluded trip to China has produced.
While most of the points in the agreement have to do with the development of cross-strait commercial, transportation and trade ties -- and can be implemented with or without Taiwanese support -- some of the points will need the approval of the government, Chiang said yesterday.
PHOTO: CNA
In particular, the proposal regarding media interaction across the strait and direct charter flights needs government sanction, Chiang said.
The KMT will most likely choose to execute the proposals from the Taiwanese side via the party's legislative caucus, he added.
Many of the points in the agreement were ideas previously forwarded by the Council of Economic Planning and Development, Chiang said, adding that the agreement reflected the needs of the China-based Taiwanese business community.
Speaking prior to his interview, Chiang said that his trip had been made in the economic interests of the Taiwanese people.
"For Taiwan, economic development is most important," Chiang said.
Only by helping the nation's economy through improving cross-strait financial exchanges can Taiwan increase its visibility on the international scene and improve cross-strait relations, he added.
Chiang also said yesterday that in all his interactions with the CCP, he had been open and firm about the KMT's adherence to the Republic of China's sovereignty.
"I was very clear that we defend the Republic of China and urged the CCP to consider the Taiwanese people, not from the perspective of Beijing, but from the point of view of Taipei. Our talk was in an open, peer-to-peer environment," Chiang said, adding that he did not feel that the dignity or status of the Republic of China had been diminished or lessened by his meeting with the communists.
Responding to domestic criticism about the legality of the agreement reached between the KMT and the communists, Chiang said that since the KMT and the CCP did not formally sign an agreement, he does not believe that he violated the Act Governing Relations Between Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (兩岸人民關係條例).
The act, which states that civil servants and government officials -- including lawmakers -- cannot negotiate or execute agreements with Beijing without authorization from the government, has been cited by Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Council Vice Chairman Chiu Tai-san (邱太三) in their criticism of the KMT delegation.
While he did not believe the trip's legality was an issue, Chiang and the 34 other members of the delegation to China would have no problem defending themselves in court should they be charged with violating the act.
A focus of the interview yesterday was the invitation from Jia Qinglin (賈慶林), chairman of the People's Political Consultative Conference, to Lien that was made during Jia's meeting with Chiang in Beijing on Thursday.
It is unlikely that Lien will make the trip prior to or directly after the National Assembly elections on May 14, Chiang said.
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