Presidential election 2008: 2 days to go: Hsieh urges Ma to drop unification

PHOTO: AP

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday urged his Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) rival Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to abandon the goal of unification with China and relinquish the "one China market," instead of talking about boycotting the Beijing Olympics.

There are many ways to exert pressure on China over its bloody crackdown on Tibet, Hsieh said, including the KMT pulling its investments out of China, abandoning the "one China" principle, relinquishing the "one China market" idea and dropping the idea of unification.

"Ma Ying-jeou should work with me and stand on the side of freedom and democracy," Hsieh said. "Instead of sacrificing the interests of others, he should sacrifice his personal interests and those of his family."

The DPP candidate said some people had asked him whether Taiwan should boycott the Beijing Olympics if Ma is elected president, and he said the answer was simple.

"Just don't elect him," he said.

PHOTO: AFP

While a national leader should remain calm in times of trouble, Hsieh said, it seemed Ma was at wits' end and frequently flip-flopped on issues.

Hsieh said Ma was treating the Tibet issue as if it were a "trifling matter."

"It is a national affair. What would happen to this country if he were elected president?" Hsieh said.

He said that Ma had accused him of taking advantage of the incident by showing his concern for Tibetans, but then Ma had later followed suit.

Ma then proposed boycotting the Olympics, but then attached a precondition after his remarks were criticized, Hsieh said.

"Ma's comments are unwise and it is wrong to throw cold water on athletes' hopes," Hsieh said. "It just shows that he is inexperienced in national affairs and that he makes decisions in a hasty manner."

While a boycott of the Games by the rest of the world might exert pressure on China, this might not be the case if Taiwan kept its team at home, he said.

"China would be happy if we don't participate," he said. "If they manage to lure our athletes onto their teams, they can tell the world that Taiwan is part of China."

Meanwhile, Hsieh's campaign team urged Ma to relinquish the "one China market," forgo the ultimate goal of unification with China and support the DPP's referendum on joining the UN under the name "Taiwan," instead of talking about an Olympic boycott.

Hsieh spokesman Shen Fa-hui (沈發惠) said that he was afraid Ma would accept Beijing's "one China" principle if he were elected.

Shen said Ma should clearly state whether he would accept the "one China" principle, and how he expects to carry out his campaign promises if he does not.

Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦), another Hsieh spokesman, called on Ma to apologize for his "improper" comments on Tibet.

Chang said Ma owed the public four apologies: First, for accusing the Hsieh team of taking advantage of the crackdown but then later attending a vigil to commemorate those who have lost their lives in the violence.

Second, for saying that it was "not a good time" for China to crack down on Tibet and third, for saying that it was unclear who should be held responsible for the unrest, Chang said.

Finally, Ma should apologize for saying that he would like to see the KMT youth corps cultivate someone like Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤).

Meanwhile, a former diplomat yesterday denounced the KMT's "cross-strait common market" idea as being economically and politically unfeasible.

Lu Chao-chong (魯肇忠), a former envoy to the US and EU, said the "common market" idea was similar to the European Economic Community, which had the ultimate goal of unification and integration of its member states.

Lu said he wondered if the KMT candidates wanted to use the idea of a common market to pave the way for unification with China.

He also expressed concern over the possibility that the KMT would regain control of both the legislature and central government. It was too dangerous to let one party do whatever it pleases, he said.

In other developments, the DPP caucus said ensuring the referendums on UN entry passed would be more effective than a boycott of the Beijing Olympics.

"Freedom and democracy are what Tibetans expect. If we can assure that freedom and democracy are ensconced in Taiwan, it will be the best encouragement for them," DPP caucus whip Yeh Yi-ching (葉宜津) told a press conference at the caucus office yesterday.

"Do not forget that [Ma] is a `pro-China' politician. What has made him suddenly become so tough on China? The answer is the election, it is all about winning the election," DPP Legislator Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) said.

Additional reporting by Jimmy Chuang