Sun, Apr 03, 2005 page3

• Chen must respond to PRC maneuvering, analysts say

  RESPONSE Intimidation from Beijing has prompted two presidential advisors to tender their resignations. Decisive action from Chen is necessary, observers insist

  • By Huang Tai-lin / STAFF REPORTER
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  A series of events taking place this week had some political observers expressing concern over a possible emergence of support for Beijing in Taiwan in the wake of China's newly-enacted "Anti-Secession" Law.

  Noting the controversial visit a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) delegation made to China two days after hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese took to the streets to oppose the Anti-Secession Law -- in addition to recent remarks made by senior presidential policy advisors Hsu Wen-long (許文龍) and Stan Shih (施振榮) -- political analysts say the Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) administration needs to respond quickly before things escalate into a situation that threatens Taiwan's security.

  "Should the government keep mum on these events, business leaders will adopt the mindset that as long as they stay away from politics, they can invest in China all they want," political commentator Chen Li-hung (陳立宏) said.

  Chen Li-hung was referring to the remarks made by Acer Group founder Shih on Thursday, when he offered to resign as the president's policy adviser, saying that he wanted to do so to underscore his political neutrality.

  Shih's remarks caused some embarrassment to the Chen administration, as he was the second tycoon this week to make public their willingness to quit the honorary post to distance themselves from the president and to avoid being given a "pro-China" label.

  Presidential adviser and Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp founder Hsu, a known Taiwan-independence supporter, last Sunday issued an unusual statement praising Beijing's "one China" principle. The letter was published on the front page of local Chinese-language newspaper on March 26, the day of the mass rally.

  Many pan-green figures, including former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), said they understood why Hsu published the letter, and noted that he did so at the expense of his own reputation for the sake of the 100,000-plus Taiwanese working for him in China.

  Both Hsu and Shih said that they had offered to resign as an adviser to the president because they had no interest in Taiwanese politics.

  The Presidential Office has yet to state whether it had accepted their resignations, saying only that "Taiwan is a democratic country and it's natural that there are diverse opinions."

  "While it may be true that Hsu had no choice but to do what he did, he still should come forth and explain himself," Chen Li-hung said.

  "For the Presidential Office which has yet to announce whether it will accept the resignations, the public could be forgiven for thinking the government is sitting idly by and not doing its job," Chen Li-hung said.

  The government could be viewed as applying a double standard to Shih and Hsu, while others not close to the president acting in a similar manner would be characterized as "selling out Taiwan."

  To demonstrate to the people of Taiwan that the Chen administration is responsible, Ku Chung-hwa (顧忠華), a political analyst and sociology professor at National Chengchi University, said the government needs to make adjustments in its policies regarding cross-strait affairs and economic issues.

  Against the backdrop of the Anti-Secession Law, political watchers suggested that Beijing is beginning to pressure China-based Taiwanese businesspeople and while stepping up its "united front" strategy against Taiwan.

  The "united front" strategy refers to tactics employed by Beijing aimed at extending its influence within Taiwan in order to bring about unification.

  On the bright side, Ruan Ming (阮銘), an advisor at the Taiwan Research Institute's strategic and international studies department, said that Hsu and Shih's remarks highlighted Taiwan's democracy.

  "[The remarks] showed people and the world that Taiwan is indeed a democracy where freedom of speech is allowed," said Ruan, who is also an advisor to the president.

  Through their remarks, the public has also become aware of China's "true face" -- a face which makes adherence to the "one-China" policy a prerequisite for investment opportunities in its markets, Ruan said.

  "China used to say that cross-strait relations should separate economic issues from political issues. We know now that they are lying," Ruan said.
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