The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday welcomed the promise that Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) will phone President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) before he embarks on his China visit.
Both the government and the KMT have confirmed that Lien will telephone Chen at 4:10pm on Monday to inform the president about his trip to China the following day.
Lien's trip which will mark the first time that a KMT chairman has set foot on Chinese soil in more than five decades.
Council Vice Chairman You Ying-lung (
It is believed that Lien's visit will be smoother and more rewarding if he communicates with the government beforehand, You said.
You said that it is a democratic norm that political parties compete among themselves, although he added that the national interest should be put ahead of party gains.
He said this competition is to the benefit of the country only when the opposition parties bear the nation's dignity and the people's wellbeing in mind and cooperates with the government.
You said that after Beijing enacted its "Anti-Accession" Law targeting Taiwan, the government was forced to rearrange its priorities regarding its cross-strait policies in consideration of national security and the people's interests.
He reiterated calls for Beijing officials to return to the negotiating table with their Taiwanese counterparts. He said that if Beijing intends to recognize cross-strait political reality and reduce hostility toward Taiwan, it must resume official talks with Taiwan's authorities.
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