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MAC calls for Lien to report back to Chen

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) should debrief President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) on the nature of his discussions with Chinese officials during his trip to China, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said yesterday.

Wu made the remarks at the Legislative Yuan's Home and Nations Committee one day before Lien is set to conclude his eight-day China visit.

Commenting on the matter on Sunday, Chen said Lien had behaved with propriety as an opposition leader because he had honored his promise and did not sign any agreement involving government affairs with China.

Wu said the president's comment should not be mistaken as an endorsement for the conclusions of the Lien-Hu talks, pointing out that Lien did not assert the sovereignty of the Republic of China and express Taiwan's objection to the "Anti-Secession" Law during the talks.

Wu said the government respects the different viewpoints held by different political parties and believes that it was not against the law for the KMT to release a news statement to outline the main points of the Lien-Hu talks in written form.

On Hu's proposals that Taiwan and China should establish political trust, enhance economic cooperation, open negotiations on an equal footing and encourage cross-strait civic exchanges, Wu dismissed the overtures as containing nothing new.

Although China is promoting exchanges with Taiwan, it still firmly opposes Taiwan independence and sticks to the "one China" principle, Wu noted.

According to Wu, by inviting Lien to visit China, Beijing was trying to bring down the pressure from the international community in the wake of the enactment of its Anti-Secession Law that threatens the use of non-peaceful means against Taiwan.

In the face of China's international isolation of Taiwan and military threat, a consensus on cross-strait policy is required among various political parties, Wu said.

As to People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong's (宋楚瑜) upcoming visit to China, Wu said he hopes Soong will express the true voice of the Taiwanese people on cross-strait issues during the trip.

With Soong having had two meetings with Chen over the past two months and having reached a 10-point agreement with the president, the government is not worried about his China trip, Wu said.

However, he said, Soong's trip is not being made under the government's authorization and that Soong only represents the PFP.

Wu said he believes it is the expectation of the majority of people in Taiwan that Chen can visit China under the principles of equality, peace and dignity and discuss cross-strait issues with China leaders.

Chen said Sunday that he had asked Soong to pass on some messages to Hu but did not elaborate what the messages were.
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