DPP legislator plans to take Jia up on his offer

An outspoken pro-independence legislator from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday he plans to organize a legislative delegation to visit China now that Beijing has publicly pledged to reach out to the Taiwanese people, including diehard independence proponents.

Plan

DPP Legislator Wang Hsing-nan (王幸男) announced his plan after Jia Qinglin (賈慶林), chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) , was quoted as having said recently that CPPCC members should take advantage of various favorable conditions to make extensive contacts with the Taiwan people, including the pan-greens.

According to Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po daily, Jia asked CPPCC attendees to take advantage of opportunities to "contact members of the pan-green camp in Taiwan, including `hardliners.'"

Until now, the Beijing authorities have refused to have any dialogue or engagement with the DPP administration due to its refusal to accept the so-called "one China" principle.

Wang said he will invite his like-minded colleagues from the DPP and the Taiwan Solidarity Union to visit China for talks with Chinese officials on cross-strait issues.

Hostility

If the plan materializes, Wang said he will ask Chinese officials why China bears such strong hostility toward Taiwan and the DPP.

In his view, he said, many cross-strait grudges resulted from historical feuds between the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).

Wang said that if he manages to get a permit to enter China, he will clearly express the basic stance of major pro-independence groups and try to convince China to abandon its attempt to use military force against Taiwan.