Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers expressed doubt yesterday over Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh's (謝長廷) plan to push for a more open cross-strait policy if he is elected next March.
In an interview with Singapore's English-language Straits Times that was published on Monday, Hsieh said he favored broader cross-strait economic exchanges as long as Taiwan's sovereignty remained secure.
Hsieh agreed with allowing more Chinese investment and tourists to enter Taiwan, as well as with the establishment of direct shipping and air links to help slash business costs, the newspaper quoted him as saying.
Hsieh gave the interview during his visit to Singapore on Aug. 12.
CRITICISM
KMT caucus whip Kuo Su-chun (
"Hsieh should have implemented the policies [he is promoting] when he was premier," Kuo said.
While President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) played a bad cop role by promoting independence, Hsieh was trying to play the good cop and was lying to get votes, Kuo said.
KMT Legislator Su Chi (蘇起) said Hsieh would fail to put his ideas into effect unless he could get his DPP colleagues to accept them.
Su described Hsieh as the "tenor" of the DPP in terms of setting up cross-strait direct transportation links, saying he would be opposed by other DPP members.
"I wonder how long Hsieh can continue with his solo effort on this, but no one objects in the KMT to direct cross-strait transportation links," Su said.
KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (
"It's a good thing that Hsieh is making policies that are closer to mine. I hope that he won't change his mind later in order to please deep-green supporters," Ma said during a visit to Hsinchu County yesterday.
Ma criticized Chen for making the same promises when elected in 2000 but failing to implement them. He also challenged Hsieh's promise to open direct flights.
HSIEH RESPONDS
Responding to Ma, Hsieh said yesterday that he had been consistent on the direct links.
"When I was premier, I was supportive of cross-strait charter flights and I will continue that course," Hsieh told reporters.
Opening direct links through charter flights was a way to avoid the controversy over whether the cross-strait flights should be defined as a domestic or international route, Hsieh said.
He said he would gradually expand charter flight services from the Lunar New Year holidays to weekends and even daily flights, making direct links an eventual reality.
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