Young praised, vilified by parties

American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Stephen Young's comments on Thursday drew heated criticism from opposition parties yesterday, but some political heavyweights also came out in defense of the US representative's blunt statement.

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said he understood Young's comments, but suggested that the AIT director choose his words with care if he wanted to facilitate the passage of the long-stalled arms procurement bills in the Legislative Yuan.

"It would be a big help for the arms bills if [Young] had chosen a more euphemistic mode of expression or self-restraint," Ma said.

While arguing that the KMT has always been supportive of a "reasonable" arms budget, Ma said that passage of the bill depends on the nation's defense needs, finances, cross-strait relations and public opinion, and the US should respect the right of the Legislative Yuan to review the bill.

"The Republic of China is a sovereign country ... The right of the Legislative Yuan to review the bill should be respected," Ma said in a meeting with the press. "[The KMT] will support the bill if it's necessary. National defense concerns everybody, and our stance should not be influenced by an AIT representative."

Thanking the US for its concern over Taiwan's defense and security in Asia, Ma said that the KMT takes the issue of national defense seriously and had said last month that it would handle this issue in the current legislative session.

The KMT and People First Party (PFP) caucuses have agreed not deal with the bill until Prosecutor Eric Chen (陳瑞仁) concludes his investigation into the corruption scandals surrounding the president and his family, Ma said, adding that there was still time for the bill to be reviewed after the prosecutor's investigative reports are released around the middle of next month.

KMT caucus whip Tsai Chin-lung (蔡錦隆) yesterday told the press that Young's comments had interfered with the nation's internal affairs and might influence the public's perception of the arms bills.

The PFP also condemned Young for what it called "improper comments."

PFP caucus whip Yang Cheng Chin-ling (鄭金玲) said at a press conference that the PFP would recommend that the US recall Young, and that it would initiate a motion in the legislature that Young be declared persona non grata.

Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀), director of the PFP's policy coordination department, said the caucus would demand that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revoke the AIT official's diplomatic immunity if Young does not apologize by next week for his comments on the arms procurement deal and the opposition parties' behavior during the Double Ten National Day celebrations.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Charles Chiang (江昭儀), who is president of the interparliamentary group that serves as a liaison between the US Congress and the Legislative Yuan, said his group supported Young's comments because "the US is still obliged to defend Taiwan's security" under its Taiwan Relations Act.

He said that although the arms purchase bill is considered an internal issue, Young was also addressing the diplomatic issue between Taiwan and the US. Young's comments therefore did not violate Taiwan's sovereignty, he said.

Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) told a press conference that he appreciated Young's comments and that he would "do his best" to coordinate between parties to pass the bills.