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Officials try to defuse Dalai Lama row

Democratic Progressive Party legislators Kuan Bi-ling, right, William Lai, center, and Lee Chun-yee hold a press conference in Taipei yesterday to condemn President Ma Ying-jeou’s remarks on the possibility of the Dalai Lama visiting Taiwan. PHOTO: CNA

The Presidential Office yesterday tried to tone down President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) blunt rejection on Wednesday of the Dalai Lama’s proposed visit, saying that it was based on a “consideration of the overall national interest.”

Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦), however, would not expound on what “the overall national interest” considerations were when asked by reporters for an elaboration.

“It is a very complicated issue,” he said when pressed on whether “the national interest” referred to cross-strait relations.

When asked whether the Presidential Office was under any pressure from Beijing regarding the Tibetan spiritual leader’s planned visit, Wang said there had been no contact with Beijing in this regard. Although the Dalai Lama has expressed an interest in visiting Taiwan, the administration has not yet received any request for a visit, he said.

“We would make appropriate arrangements if a more appropriate time arises in the future,” Wang said.

Fielding questions from the press while attending an event hosted by the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents Club on Wednesday, Ma said the Dalai Lama was not welcome to visit Taiwan when asked how he would respond to the Tibetan spiritual leader’s Nov. 28 comments to Elta TV in the northern Indian city of Dharamsala that he would like to visit Taiwan next year.

Ma’s comments marked a distinct change of attitude. In March, Ma said he would welcome a visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader following his inauguration as president.

Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) yesterday urged the president to reconsider his decision.

“From a religious perspective, it is a positive thing for the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan ... His visit to Taiwan would mean something in the world,” Wang said, urging the government to reconsider the matter and make arrangements for a visit.

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chu Feng-chih (朱鳳芝) said yesterday that she did not understand what Ma meant by saying “it is not the right time for a [Dalai Lama] visit.”

“I don’t know what President Ma is thinking or what he is afraid of,” she said when questioning Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairwoman Lai Shin-yuan (賴幸媛) at the legislature.

KMT Legislator Justin Chou (周守訓), however, supported Ma’s position, saying that “the timing and location were inappropriate” for the Dalai Lama to visit.

“After all, the Dalai Lama is negotiating with China regarding the Tibet issue ... Inviting him to visit now would only add some uncertainty to the [negotiation] process,” Chou said. “When religion tangles with politics, we should always be very cautious.”

KMT caucus deputy secretary-general Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔) said Ma’s remarks should be viewed as a gesture of “goodwill” to Beijing.

“We are going to officially launch direct cross-strait transportation links on Dec. 15. This is a very important moment [in cross-strait affairs],” Yang said.

KMT caucus whip Lin Yi-shih (林益世) called the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus’ intention to propose a legislative resolution to invite the Dalai Lama a “manipulation of political ideology.”

DPP spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) expressed regret and condemned Ma for rejecting a potential visit by the Dalai Lama.

Noting that former presidents Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) had both received the Dalai Lama, Cheng said leaders from democratic countries such as the US, France and Germany have also met with the Dalai Lama as a way to exert pressure on China.

“The Dalai Lama is welcomed in democratic countries and Taiwan should stand on the side of these democracies,” Cheng told a press conference. “President Ma should clearly explain to the public the reasons why he is agianst any visit. [Ma] should not yield to Beijing’s pressure because it could become a serious international incident and hurt Taiwan’s image as a democracy.”

At a separate setting yesterday, MAC Deputy Minister Liu Te-shun (劉德勳) tried to downplay Ma’s remarks, saying that the Dalai Lama was an internationally revered religious leader who has never been unwelcome.

Liu said the MAC had not yet made any assessment of a visit because it did not have any concrete information on any visit, but that it would keep a close eye on developments.

Liu declined to comment on whether Ma’s remarks were inappropriate and what message it conveyed to the international community when leaders of other democracies had resisted Beijing’s pressure and met with the Dalai Lama.

Meanwhile, Taiwan Friends of Tibet (TFOT) also condemned Ma.

“At this moment, when the Dalai Lama is visiting Europe, meeting with the Belgian prime minister and about to deliver a speech at the European Parliament, the Taiwanese government openly rejects a visit,” TFOT chairwoman Chow Mei-li (周美里) said in a press release. “This has surely damaged Taiwan’s image in the international community.”

Chow urged Ma to stand behind the values of freedom and democracy and not to bow to pressure from China’s authoritarian regime.

“It’s disappointing that Ma is so eager to reject a visit by the Dalai Lama that he has to say so before the Dalai Lama has even made a plan,” she said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY LOA IOK-SIN AND STAFF WRITER
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