Tue, Apr 19, 2005 page3

• DPP cautions Soong on China trip

  ANOTHER PLEA Repeating an oft-heard refrain these days, Su Tseng-chang urged the PFP leader not to harm the nation's interest while he dallies with Beijing

  • By Jewel Huang / STAFF REPORTER WITH CNA
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  In response to PFP Chairman James Soong's (宋楚瑜) acceptance of Beijing's invitation to visit China, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday urged politicians who plan to go to China not to put their party interests above the nation's when they make contact with Chinese officials.

  "Everyone in Taiwan is free to go to China since Taiwan is a democratic society," Su said. "But I once again call on them to respect the country's laws when it comes to matters involving the government's authority."

  On the question of whether there will be another meeting between President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Soong before Soong's trip to China, Su said he is not aware of Soong's intentions, but that but the more communication between politicians and the government, the better off the country will be.

  Echoing Su's remark, DPP legislative whip Lai Ching-teh (賴清德) said that Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and Soong should achieve consensus at home before departing on their twin China visits.

  Lai said he thinks it likely that Lien will indeed make a visit to China, after he was invited by Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤). Lai reminded Lien to make sure that he does not break the law during his visit, pointing to the 5th Provision in the Additional Articles of the Constitution, which stipulates that no political party should endanger Taiwan's sovereignty through its actions.

  Lien is set to visit China later this month. The visit will make Lien the first KMT chairman to set foot on Chinese soil since the KMT withdrew to Taiwan more than five decades ago. Soong will likely visit Beijing in early May, also at the invitation of Hu.

  Meanwhile, the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) suggested yesterday that Soong hold a second meeting with President Chen to get government authorization before he visits China. TSU whip Lo Chih-ming (羅志明) said such a meeting would enable Soong to "enter talks with the Chinese side with government authorization on behalf of Taiwan's 23 million people."

  The TSU is opposed to visits by political party leaders to China without government authorization because such visits, even if made in private capacities, erode Taiwan's sovereignty and undermine the president's legal status as head of state, Lo said.

  Chen and Soong met on Feb. 24 and clinched a 10-point agreement pledging, among other things, to maintain the national title of the Republic of China and not to declare Taiwanese independence, in a move to mitigate cross-strait tensions.

  TSU Legislator Ho Min-hao (何敏豪) called on party leaders to think twice before they go to China, and urged the government to forcefully deal with any visits that undermine the country's sovereignty and interests.
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