People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (
Soong made the statements while being interviewed by a local TV station last night. Soong was explaining why he had chosen to reach reproachment with Chen.
"In addition to the Chen-Soong meeting on Feb. 24, which reached a 10-point agreement, we met only one time," Soong said. "And both parties' high-ranking members were also in attendance at those meetings."
Soong said he and Chen focused on Taiwan Strait issues when they met.
Soong said when he visited Washington last year, US officials had seriously warned him that the cross-strait situation is becoming more dangerous than people in Taiwan think.
US officials, Soong said, were concerned that China might use military force against Taiwan last month or this month if the government promoted the establishment of a new constitution this year.
US officials encouraged Soong to cooperate with the government on Taiwan Strait issues, Soong said, believing that cooperation between the DPP and PFP may effectively curb the Taiwan independence movement.
The PFP chairman said no PFP members wanted to enter the government, adding that he has never been interested in being Taiwan's premier.
Commenting on the possibility of reconciliation with the DPP, Soong said that PFP wants reconciliation with the government.
"Taiwanese are tired of confrontation between political parties," Soong said. "Reconciliation is a right thing to do."
He said that because the DPP failed to gain a majority in the legislature after last year's elections, the party wanted to cooperate with the opposition to promote bills in the legislature.
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