TSU: Lee wants to oppose conclusions of economic meet

Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) lawmakers yesterday said that former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) was worried that the conclusions of an upcoming economic conference would become the basis for Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) to tilt his cross-strait policies toward China.

They said Lee indicated that the TSU should not endorse the conclusions.

Lee held a meeting with TSU legislators Lo Chih-ming (羅志明), Ho Min-hao (何敏豪), Huang Chung-yung (黃宗源) and some economics experts on Sunday to discuss the TSU's standpoint and strategies toward the Economic Sustainable Growth Conference, which is due to be held on July 27 and 28.

According to Lo, Lee said that the first Economic Development Conference held in 2001, which resolved to lift restrictions on China-bound investment, did not help revive Taiwan's sluggish economy, and the employment situation deteriorated.

"Former president Lee thinks that it's not right to open up [the nation's] economy to the Chinese market just because it seems like we have to," Lo said.

Lo said that the TSU will attend the Economic Sustainable Growth Conference, but will oppose direct transportation links and some other policies that are unfavorable to Taiwanese workers.

The TSU will also ask the conference to include the conclusions reached in an economic forum held by the Taiwan Advocates in March, Lo said.

"Even though the TSU lawmakers are going to attend the conference, we will not endorse the conclusions coming out of the conference," Lo added.

"If the government does not accept our suggestions, the TSU will stage a walkout from the conference," Lo warned

Although the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party will not participate in the Economic Sustainable Growth Conference, many academics and experts who are expected to attend are from the pan-blue camp, Ho said.

"For example, KMT Vice Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤) and Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research Chairman Vincent Siew (蕭萬長), who are KMT heavyweights and will preside over forums in that conference, have clear stances on relaxing restrictions on investment in China," Ho said.

"The ground rules [for the conference] are unfair from the very beginning," Ho said.