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Lu urges DPP to be open-minded on cross-strait issues

Former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) said yesterday that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) should behave like a responsible opposition party and have a more open attitude toward cross-strait exchanges.

“We’ve entered a new era of cross-strait exchange and there have been big changes in domestic affairs, foreign affairs, the economy and culture. As a responsible opposition party, the DPP should not close its door to opportunities,” she said yesterday while meeting Keelung Mayor Chang Rong-tung (張榮通).

Lu’s remarks came in the wake of Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu’s (陳菊) recent visit to China, the highest-ranking incumbent DPP official ever to make the trip.

When asked to comment on President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) statement on the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre, Lu said she agreed that China had made some progress over the past 20 years, but urged Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) to redress the incident.

“I think all countries have made progress compared with 20 years ago, and so we don’t have to be too picky [about Ma’s statement],” she said.

Ma’s statement on the massacre, which was issued on Thursday, drew criticism after he praised China for its economic reforms and efforts to improve its human rights record.

“Although its efforts [to improve human rights] have received mixed reviews from the international community, they have shown that Beijing is willing to address the issue and become more open,” he said.

Ma, who during his terms as Taipei mayor was a vocal critic of Beijing’s crackdown on the 1989 protesters, has been accused of being too quiet on the subject since taking office.

Lu said the leaders in the Chinese Communist Party had changed since the massacre occurred 20 years ago and Hu had nothing to do with the incident. However, Hu should take the opportunity to redress the massacre “with an open mind,” she said.
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