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Lien, Soong told to be respectful

"While they address Hu Jintao as the Chinese president, please do not forget to address us as President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu, not Mr. Chen."

Annette Lu, vice president

Opposition leaders should demonstrate their determination to safeguard the Republic of China's (ROC) sovereignty by demanding that Beijing fly the ROC's national flag during their visits in China, Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) said yesterday.

Lu said the ROC's anthem should also be played on relevant occasions during such trips as well.

The vice president's comments came in response to reporters' questions about the upcoming trips by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong's (宋楚瑜) to China.

Lien is scheduled to leave for China on Tuesday and meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) in Beijing next Friday.

According to the KMT's itinerary, Lien will visit Xian, deliver a speech at Peking University and meet with Taiwanese businesspeople in Shanghai before returning to Taipei on May 3.

Soong has also accepted Hu's invitation to visit China. A mission led by PFP Secretary-General Chin Ching-sheng (秦金生) is expected to leave for China today to prepare for Soong's visit sometime next month.

"Since Chairman Lien and Chairman Soong see their China visits as imperative and both have reiterated their will to safeguard Republic of China's sovereignty, I am making these suggestions in the hope that they will both follow them on behalf of the ROC government and its people," Lu said.

She also suggested that both men address President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and herself properly while on their trips.

"I believe chairmen Lien and Soong both understand international courtesy very well. While they address Hu Jintao as the Chinese president, please do not forget to address us as President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu, not Mr Chen," Lu said.

Since Lien lost last year's presidential election he has referred to Chen and Lu as "Mr" and "Ms" instead of their official titles.

Stating that the people of Taiwan do not want to be threatened by China's missiles or military actions, Lu said she hopes that Lien and Soong demand "on behalf of Taiwan's 23 million people that Chinese President Hu Jintao take substantive actions and dismantle the missiles."

There are more than 700 ballistic missiles deployed along China's southeastern coast within striking distance of Taiwan -- and that number is projected to increase at a rate of 120 a year.

Lu also called on Lien and Soong to demand that Beijing repeal its "Anti-Secession" Law.

"The whole world is condemning the Anti-Secession Law, one that counters global trends and universal values," she said.

"Therefore I hope that both chairmen Lien and Soong will face Chairman Hu and sternly demand that the law be amended or annulled," she said.
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