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President fires back on identity issue

"Taiwanese favored me instead of my rivals, who issued plenty of campaign checks in the 2004 presidential election. I did not write any checks because I knew I would win. Now we know who is stupid."

-- President Chen Shui-bian

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday hit back at the opposition and said that the nation's future and national identity were more important than the economy.

"The economy is definitely important. But this is a presidential election and not a local poll. Taiwan's future, cross-strait relations and national sovereignty are a more important and serious issue than the economy," Chen said. "Don't treat the Taiwanese people as idiots, and don't deceive yourself and others by saying that identity is not an important issue."

Chen, who is in the Marshall Islands for a three-day visit, made the remarks at a press conference in response to Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) reaction to Hsieh's invitation to debate the UN membership issue.

Ma said on Friday that Hsieh should discuss the economy instead, quoting former US president Bill Clinton's campaign slogan -- "It's the economy, stupid!"

Hsieh also suggested then that the referendum proposal that draws the least amount of support from the public in a debate should be withdrawn.

Chen said yesterday that Ma had not changed his position on ultimately unifying with China, and that the KMT was a "unification party" because its party constitution embraced China as the "bible" and looked up to it as a standard that could not be challenged or altered.

He said Ma has claimed that Taiwan is the Republic of China (ROC) but dared not say the ROC is Taiwan. He added that when it comes to the issue of identity, Ma prevaricates and dwells on the economy.

"It is Ma who dares not say Taiwan, stupid!" Chen said. "Taiwan is an independent country and it is the public opinion. Why doesn't he have the guts to say so?"

Chen said Ma owed the public an explanation as to whether making more money and improving the economy was the only trick he could pull.

"Taiwanese favored me instead of my rivals, who issued plenty of campaign checks in the 2004 presidential election. I did not write any checks because I knew I would win," Chen said. "Now we know who is stupid."

He added that the DPP would not withdraw its referendum proposal because the party believed the public would support it.

In Taipei, Hsieh said that Ma could not understand why the country and its people so desperately needed dignity.

"Taiwan's economy is just a phenomenon; the source of the problem is politics," Hsieh said.

It is true that the economy is important, Hsieh said, but dignity and hope are also important.

"We are not pigs or other animals who do not care about the next generation and how to win the respect of others," he said.

Still using a crutch, Hsieh told a press conference that Ma has failed to understand that strong economic growth is not enough because the country has paid too high a price in the past.

What the nation needs instead is social welfare, a sustainable environment, cultural promotion and happiness, he said.

Comparing his cross-strait economic policy to Ma's, Hsieh said Ma's problem was he lacked a sense of national security.

Responding to Ma's challenge that he make clear whether he is running for president of the ROC or Taiwan, Hsieh said he is running for president of Taiwan but the name of the country, as stated in the Constitution, is the ROC.

Hsieh said he would like to know Ma's definition of the ROC and to explain whether the KMT's referendum proposal seeks reentry to the UN as a goal or is just an election gambit.

Ma yesterday shrugged off Hsieh's criticism, saying that a presidential candidate should pay more attention to the economy.

"I've realized during my long-stay program [around the country] that the people need better livelihoods and a better economy. That's what a presidential candidate should care about," Ma said after attending a municipal event at Taipei City Hall.

Ma declined to confirm whether or not he would accept Hsieh's invitation to debate the UN issue.

Additional reporting by Mo Yan-chih
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