Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) yesterday said he disapproved of family members of the country’s cross-strait negotiators doing business in China.
Liu made the remarks in a SET-TV interview that was taped on Friday and aired last night.
Asked if family members of cross-strait negotiators were allowed to do business in China, Liu said he would prefer not to answer the question because the interviewer seemed to be referring to Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤), “but, it is surely necessary to avoid anything that could draw accusations.”
Chiang tendered his resignation last Monday — although he later retracted it — amid criticism of his family’s business ties in China.
Asked whether Chiang’s son had supported his father’s decision to step down, Liu responded: “I was not referring to this case.”
On the proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China, Liu backed President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) stance that it is unnecessary to put the matter to a referendum.
“Basically [the ECFA] is an economic issue, irrelevant to sovereignty and politics. Putting it to a referendum would eliminate any chance of rational and professional discussion on the subject because there are complicated factors involved — ideology and politics — in referendums in Taiwan,“ the premier said.
Matters put to referendums have a tendency to turn “emotional,” Liu said. However, the government would consider referendums on matters that concern “Taiwan’s future,” “politics,” or “national security,” none of which apply in the case of an ECFA, he said.
On concerns that an ECFA could affect national sovereignty, Liu said: “The opposition parties think everything involves sovereignty ... and they are free [to think so].”
Questioned about a protest planned by the Democratic Progressive Party against the Cabinet’s proposed changes to the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法), Liu said he had “only a general understanding” of the draft amendment.
“I have not done a particular examination of the amendment and have only a general understanding of its contents,” Liu said, but added that it was more progressive than the current act in some aspects.
“It replaces the permission system with registration. It scraps criminal punishment. [Protests will be allowed in] previously off-limits areas [at a safe] distance,” he said.
“Not everyone is satisfied with the revisions because it is a matter that everyone has [his or her] opinion about,” he said. “I also read some [opposing] opinions and saw some reason in their argument.”
Asked why the proposal would require protesters to obtain the consent of shops along their activity route, Liu said he was not clear on the details of the amendment.
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