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Critics slam Siew’s China visit

Former Democratic Progressive Party legislator Lin Cho-shui speaks at a cross-strait forum in Taipei yesterday, expressing regret that vice president-elect Vincent Siew needed to apply for a “Taiwan compatriot travel document” to enter China. PHOTO: CNA

Vice president-elect Vincent Siew’s (蕭萬長) participation in the Boao Forum in China might undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty and image in the international community, political analysts said at a forum in Taipei yesterday.

Siew, of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), arrived in China’s Hainan Province yesterday for the three-day 2008 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA). He is participating in the forum in his capacity as chairman of the Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation.

“How could the KMT call Siew’s attendance at Boao a ‘diplomatic breakthrough’? It was absolutely an internal matter and by no means a diplomatic affair,” former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Lin Cho-shui (林濁水) told the forum hosted by Taiwan Thinktank.

Siew has attended the annual forum, billed as a gathering of businesspeople and officials focusing on greater trade cooperation in Asia, since its founding in 2003.

Siew sidestepped reporters’ questions on what document he would use to enter China. But Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦), spokesman for Siew’s delegation, said on Tuesday that the vice president-elect would use his “Taiwan compatriot travel document” to enter China – the same practice he had used since 2003.

A Taiwan compatriot travel document is a special permit issued by China for Taiwanese who wish to travel to China since Beijing does not recognize Republic of China (ROC) passports.

Lin, who said he had rejected many invitations to visit China because he refused to apply for a Taiwan compatriot travel document, said: “It is heart wrenching to see [Taiwan’s] vice president visit China using a Taiwan compatriot travel document.”

Even Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) officials who attended cross-strait negotiations with their counterparts at China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) in the late 1980s and early 1990s refused to accept Taiwan compatriot travel documents, Lin said.

Liu Shih-chung (劉世忠), deputy chief of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Research and Planning Committee, said Siew’s possible interaction with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) at the Boao Forum might create an impression in the international community that Taiwan backs China at a time when Beijing is under heavy fire for its military crackdown on Tibet.

The KMT has said that Siew is scheduled to have a private meeting with Hu this afternoon.

“When the daily world news is focused on China’s suppression of Tibet and more and more national leaders are responding positively to a call to boycott the Beijing Olympics’ opening ceremony, what would the world think if Taiwan’s new leaders appear to be uncritical of the Tibet issue and choose to hold talks with Hu? Liu asked.

Lai I-chung (賴怡忠), deputy director of the DPP’s Department of International Affairs, called Siew’s presence at the Boao Forum “risky diplomacy,” which would run counter to the longed-for goal that the DPP and the KMT would reach a consensus on cross-strait issues to defend the country’s interests.

“If the Siew and Hu meeting does not produce a positive outcome, the talks will be regarded as a failure in cross-strait relations. But if they jointly advocate Siew’s cross-strait common market proposal and CEPA [Closer Economic Partnership Agreement], that will certainly raise controversy back in Taiwan,” Lai said.

Lai was referring to the idea advocated by Siew that Taiwan should establish a cross-strait common market and sign a CEPA with China.

At a separate setting yesterday, deputy DPP caucus whip Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) told a press conference that the party chose not to press Siew too much on the issue “because the DPP is a party of virtue and kindness” and it was willing to give Siew an opportunity to defend Taiwan at an international event.

Kuan expressed hope that Siew would play the role of a ROC vice president-elect who would not jeopardize Taiwan’s interests on the world stage.

“As an ROC vice president-elect with legal status and obligations, Siew should strive to disseminate messages that will benefit Taiwan at the Boao Forum and not let the international community misunderstand the true relationship between Taiwan and China,” she said.

Asked later yesterday by reporters for comments on Siew using a Taiwan compatriot travel document to visit China, Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Director Liu Teh-hsun (劉德勳) said it was unnecessary to scrutinize Siew’s decision.

Liu said that at the 1993 talks between SEF and ARATS officials, it was decided that officials from both sides would not be subjugated into using the permit, “based on the principle of convenience and mutual respect.”

Liu refrained from commenting on the obvious differential treatment that Siew received compared to other foreign dignitaries, saying he did not know the details of the arrangement.

Additional reporting by Jenny W. Hsu and CNA
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