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Officials, KMT clash over `direct links'

"We've always had separate ballots in the past ... Besides, our electoral laws require that valid and invalid ballots must be packed and kept separately -- it's impossible to do so if everything is printed on one sheet."

Chang Cheng-hsiung, Central Election Commission chairman

Representatives from several government agencies yesterday voiced their opposition to a referendum petition by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) to allow direct cross-strait air and sea transportation "right away."

A public hearing on the referendum petition was held by the Cabinet's Referendum Review Committee at the Central Election Commission (CEC) yesterday.

The KMT submitted the petition, along with the required 130,000 signatures, last month. Once the review committee approves the petition, the petitioner has to submit another 820,000 signatures within six months before the referendum can be held.

"With direct cross-strait transportation, Taiwan would be more accessible to tourists from China, and these tourists can contribute significantly to our economic prosperity," KMT policy committee convener Tseng Yung-chuan (曾永權) told the public hearing.

"It could save transportation costs for Taiwanese businesses that have invested in China ... and would make it easier to persuade multinational corporations to set up regional headquarters in Taiwan," Tseng said.

Tseng added that only through economic cooperation with China could Taiwan enhance its competitiveness in the global market.

However, the Mainland Affairs Council said that while direct cross-strait links were a long-term policy objective, it opposed opening direct links "right away," as stated in the KMT referendum proposal.

"Direct cross-strait links is certainly our long-term policy objective, but the issue is very complicated and needs careful planning," said Lee Li-cheng (李麗珍), a council official. "We can't just make it happen instantly."

Ministry of National Defense representative Peng Ming-yang (彭明陽) said it was important "not to consider economic factors only, but also to take national security issues into account."

"As China has shown in its policy statements, passage of the `Anti-Secession' Law and military activity, we should be more cautious in deciding the direct links issue," Peng said.

Meanwhile, a group of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers visited CEC Chairman Chang Cheng-hsiung (張政雄) yesterday and suggested that election and referendum choices be printed on the same ballot if they are held together.

"Many states in the US put referendums and elections on the same ballot," DPP Legislator Chai Trong-rong (蔡同榮) told Chang. "In 24 states, including Alaska, it's mandatory."

DPP Legislator Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) said the one-ballot proposal was environmentally friendly and would "cut administrative costs and better ensure that voters' choices remain confidential."

Chang said he would leave discussion of the issue with the CEC, but added that it would be "difficult to do in reality."

"We've always had separate ballots in the past. It would be difficult for people to get accustomed to a new voting system," Chang said.

"Besides, our electoral laws require that valid and invalid ballots must be packed and kept separately -- it's impossible to do so if everything is printed on one sheet," he said.

When asked how referendum voter turnout would be calculated if the election and the plebiscite were printed on the same ballot, Chang said it wouldn't be a problem, as "we can put a `nonvoter' option on the slip."
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