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DPP rules to ask officials to report visits to China

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday revealed some of the regulations it hopes to implement that would govern party members who wish to visit China.

The regulations were supposed to be finalized yesterday, but confirmation of the new rules was put off because of differing opinions within the party hierarchy.

But DPP Spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) told a press conference about some of the ideas under discussion, saying that once they are finalized, the regulations would require party officials or elected officials from the party to report to the DPP before visiting China.

He said the party’s Central Executive Committee discussed the regulations yesterday, adding that if elected officials or party officials want to form groups to visit China, they would also be required to gain approval from the party’s Central Standing Committee.

The spokesman said the ­party’s position on engaging with China was to protect Taiwan’s sovereignty and Taiwan’s interests, not lean toward China.

“Because the Chinese government controls all media outlets in China and the media can fabricate stories, we will ask DPP members visiting China to be careful and make sure they are not used during any visits,” Cheng added. “The DPP does not encourage party members to visit China and the party does not like DPP members to voluntarily form groups to visit China.”

Cheng added that once implemented, every DPP member would have to obey the new regulations without exception.

The DPP began work on the regulations last week following a visit to China last month by Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊), a DPP member. She traveled to Beijing and Shanghai in her capacity as president of the World Games 2009 Kaohsiung Organizing Committee.

Tainan Mayor Hsu Tain-tsair (許添財), another DPP member, announced he would visit Xiamen later this month for the opening ceremony of the first cross-strait sailing competition.

DPP Legislator Gao Jyh-peng (高志鵬) said yesterday the party was concerned that Chinese authorities would invite more DPP members to visit China, and they were being led into a trap by Beijing.
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