The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday dismissed criticism of President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) cross-strait policies, saying the administration was firmly upholding national sovereignty and the public’s right to decide the nation’s future.
The council issued a statement saying the government’s cross-strait policies were based on the principle of putting Taiwan and the public interest first.
“We have never changed this principle and never will,” the statement said. “Since President Ma took office, he has insisted that the future of Taiwan be jointly decided by the 23 million people of Taiwan. That is the fundamental consensus of the ruling and opposition parties as well as the public. No single leader can change that.”
The statement was made in response to remarks by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
Tsai said on Sunday that Washington had doubts about Ma’s pro-China policies, which she said could lead to misunderstandings in the international community. Tsai also said voices supporting Taiwan’s sovereignty were being silenced, which was dangerous for Taiwan.
The MAC statement said Ma had been steadfast in safeguarding the sovereignty and dignity of the Republic of China (ROC). Ma would not tolerate any denigration of the nation or its sovereignty, the statement said, adding that a majority of the public supported Ma’s policy to maintain the “status quo” under the framework of the ROC Constitution.
Ma defined the “status quo” as “no discussion of unification with Beijing during his presidency, no pursuit or support of de jure independence for Taiwan and no use of military force to resolve cross-strait disputes.”
The council said the government upheld the nation’s dignity and integrity. The administration has engaged in talks with China with the understanding that both sides shelve their differences and agree not to deny each other’s existence, it said.
The government was not eroding sovereignty or leaning toward China as some opponents have claimed, it said, but was striking a balance between national security and economic development.
The government has steadily addressed cross-strait issues through the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), the statement said. The agreements signed by the SEF with the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait enjoy the support of most Taiwanese and the international community, it said.
“Taiwan is no longer a troublemaker, but a peacemaker,” the statement said. “As the government improves cross-strait relations, we will also strengthen our friendship with the US and Japan.”
It said the administration respected differing opinions and would continue to communicate with its critics.
The Taipei Department of Health yesterday said it has launched a probe into a restaurant at Far Eastern Sogo Xinyi A13 Department Store after a customer died of suspected food poisoning. A preliminary investigation on Sunday found missing employee health status reports and unsanitary kitchen utensils at Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) in the department store’s basement food court, the department said. No direct relationship between the food poisoning death and the restaurant was established, as no food from the day of the incident was available for testing and no other customers had reported health complaints, it said, adding that the investigation is ongoing. Later
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