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TSU chairman says Ma has forgotten own concerns about cross-strait links

Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Chairman Huang Kun-huei (黃昆輝) accused President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday of contradicting his position on direct cross-strait transportation in an article he wrote in 1992, and admonished Ma not to betray himself and sacrifice the nation’s sovereignty.

Huang told a press conference yesterday that Ma penned an article in September 1992 titled “The Prospects and Questions of Direct Cross-Strait Transportation.” At the time Ma was the deputy chairman for the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), while Huang was the chairman.

In the article, Ma wrote that cross-strait transportation rights were complex and that it would be difficult to make progress on cross-strait links unless Taiwan gave in to China’s “one country, two systems” vision and accepted Taiwan as a local government under the Chinese central government.

Since direct transportation would involve issues such as recognizing the country of origin of aircraft and vessels as well as national flags and official documents, how could Taiwanese planes and vessels go to China directly if the two sides did not first resolve these controversies, Ma asked in the article. As China had not renounced taking Taiwan by force, cross-strait direct transportation would also pose problems for national defense, he wrote.

“Obviously the obstacles Ma mentioned in his article have not been eliminated, but Ma cast aside his position just to rush through deals on direct transportation with China,” Huang said.

“I want to ask Ma three questions and would like him to answer,” Huang said. “Does China recognize Taiwan as an equal political entity? Does China recognize the country of origin of Taiwan’s aircraft? Has China given up threatening Taiwan with military force?”

In response, Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) said later yesterday it was unfair to use remarks Ma made 16 years ago as MAC deputy chairman against him now because the situation has changed.

At that time, Wang said, the two sides of the Taiwan Strait did not realize they could create a win-win situation by setting aside differences.

As long as Beijing responds positively to Taipei’s gestures of goodwill, Wang said, there was no reason the country should reject the proposal of setting aside politically sensitive issues to hold talks. At this stage it is enough for China and Taiwan not to deny each other’s existence, he said.

Only if both sides of the Strait shelve differences can a win-win situation be achieved, Wang said.

Speaking on national sovereignty, Wang said the Republic of China (ROC) is an independent country and that he did not understand why Huang would question this.

Wang said all signs indicated that tension in the Strait had thawed as a result of Ma’s cross-strait policies. The essence of his approach, Wang said, is to shelve differences and focus on the economic issues.

“The result is a win-win situation,” Wang said.

In addition to cross-strait deregulation, Wang said the government had managed to purchase arms that Washington had previously “hesitated” to sell to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration.

With direct cross-strait transportation and arms procurements, the government is not only strengthening national defense but also serving the public’s interests, Wang said.
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