Former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) said yesterday she would not rule out visiting China as the founder of Formosa Weekly (玉山週報).
While introducing the newspaper’s trial issue yesterday, Lu condemned President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration for embracing the concept of “one China” despite the military threat from Beijing.
Lu had planned to print a daily newspaper, the Formosa Post (玉山午報), but changed it to a weekly paper because of funding problems. An online version of the weekly paper and the Formosa Post will be launched in the future, she told a press conference at her office.
PHOTO: LO PEI-DER, TAIPEI TIMES
When asked to comment on whether she would visit China in her new role as a newspaper publisher, Lu said she would discuss the matter with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and make sure any such visit would not damage Taiwan’s dignity.
“I am not against [visiting China], but there’s no timetable. I don’t have to go,” she said.
Lu sparked debate within the DPP over her apparent willingness to visit China with some party members strongly opposed to any trip.
Lu said that she and her staff do not hold any positions in the DPP and she had founded the newspaper as an ordinary citizen.
The trial issue, which hit the newsstands yesterday, covered the problems the DPP faces as an opposition party and the Ma administration’s efforts to develop nuclear power plants.
The next trial issue will be available on May 20, and the official launch of the Formosa Post is scheduled for July 1, the former vice president said.
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