People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (
Su was commenting on Soong's remarks in a speech delivered at Tsinghua University in Beijing earlier in the day. Soong said that Taiwan independence is a dead-end and should never be an option.
Noting that Soong is visiting China in his capacity as PFP head, Su said Soong does not have the right to "make any decision on behalf of the people of Taiwan during his China journey."
"The people of Taiwan are entitled to all kinds of options for their future. No option should be ruled out arbitrarily. Independence is an option. Soong himself can oppose Taiwan independence, but he is not entitled to rule out this option on behalf of Taiwan's people," Su said.
The Cabinet yesterday echoed this view, affirming the PFP chairman's efforts to promote Taiwan's economic experience, but adding that the PFP's policy does not represent all the people of Taiwan.
"Taiwan is a democratic country. Everybody has the right to speak out, no matter what kind of voice it will be. So do political parties," Cabinet spokesman Cho Jung-tai (
"But any individual political party's voice cannot represent Taiwan's 23 million people," Cho said.
Cho made the remarks at a press conference held after the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday morning.
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