In reaction to criticism that the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) had adjusted its policies toward China, TSU Chairman Shu Chin-chiang (
In an internal meeting held on Monday, the TSU's department of policy studies director Lee Hsien-jen (
Many pro-independence groups expressed their objections against the proposal.
PHOTO: CNA
To clarify the TSU's stance, Shu yesterday afternoon held a news conference to articulate the TSU's platform and the course of the party's China-policy adjustment.
"The TSU has not changed its policy toward China since it was established. We have been insisting that the status quo of cross-strait relations is `one nation on either side,' and that the sovereignty of both sides are equal," Shu said.
Shu said that the TSU realized that China's policy toward Taiwan has become much more flexible under Chinese President Hu Jintao (
"Facing such a new situation and developments between Taiwan and China, the TSU should make some changes -- some practical and feasible changes," Shu said.
"We hope that our supporters could know that the TSU is not made of granite that can't be broken," Shu said. "But I would like to assure them that the TSU will by no means catch the recent craze for China, like the pan-blue camp's leaders."
Shu said that the TSU adopted the principle of the "three noes": not self-contained, not rejective and not active, saying that the TSU will not take the initiative to contact China, which has been hostile to the pan-green camp.
The TSU supports "normal" cross-strait relations, but insists that three conditions are needed for the TSU to interact with China, Shu said.
First, China has to stop its suppression of Taiwan's diplomatic space and show its goodwill to Taiwan by not opposing its participation in international organizations such as the WTO or APEC.
Second, China cannot presume any stand on cross-strait interactions, including interaction with the TSU.
"If China doesn't presume its unification stand, the TSU won't presume its stand of [Taiwan's] independence," Shu said.
Third, cross-strait interaction cannot violate Taiwan's interests and the principles of equality, democracy and peace.
The TSU will definitely hold fast to its principles of anti-communism and protecting Taiwan's sovereignty.
"TSU will never accept Beijing's suggestion of unification in any form. It is wrong to say that the TSU has made a U-turn on its China policy," Shu said. "But if China shows its goodwill to Taiwan, the TSU will not shut its door. Besides, it's important for the TSU to have its voice heard in the government's policy toward China."
Shu said that the TSU will hold a series of seminars to collect the opinions of academics and officials to form a more concrete China policy.
Until an explicit policy has been established, the TSU will not initiate its interaction with China's official departments, Shu said. "So it's too early to say that the TSU will engage in inter-party interaction," he said, but added that he will not object to party members making trips to China.
As for the TSU's strong desire to participate in the Committee for Cross-Strait Peace and Development (
"But the TSU will not exclude this opportunity," he added.
Shu pointed out that the notion of interacting with China was still under discussion and was not mature yet. Therefore, he has not reported the proposal to the TSU's spiritual leader, former president Lee Teng-hui (
Seeing its ally's transformation, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesman Chen Wen-tsang (
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