Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday announced a revised approach to the party’s China policies that will highlight differences between the two countries even as the party pursues peace across the Taiwan Strait.
Future DPP cross-strait policy would be based foremost on the recognition of Taiwan and the country’s “core values,” Tsai said.
“Both sides must maintain a ‘peaceful but different’ relationship and one that is ‘peaceful and seeks commonality,’” Tsai said. “‘Peaceful’ refers to peaceful development for Taiwan and China.”
In remarks that are certain to rankle Beijing, Tsai said the two sides of the Taiwan Strait were different from one another, “historically, politically, in beliefs and within society.”
Taiwan and China’s recognition of each of these aspects is “altogether different,” she said.
“However, we also have common responsibilities and interests and that is to pursue a peaceful and stable relationship and take advantage of opportunities for development,” Tsai said, explaining the concepts buttressing the party’s new strategy.
Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), both former premiers, as well as former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), all of whom are rumored to harbor presidential aspirations, have separately issued new stances on how the DPP should orient its ties with Beijing if it were to regain power next year.
Tsai’s remarks have received the backing of DPP lawmakers, with several saying they -represented an “honest look” at the relationship with China and future development in the Taiwan Strait, long seen as a weak area for the party.
“If the DPP hopes to regain the [presidency] in 2012, it must tackle the key topic of cross-strait relations,” DPP Legislator Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) said. “We support [Tsai’s comments]. It shows we are confident.”
However, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers said there was “nothing new” about Tsai’s ideas, with KMT Legislator Alex Tsai (蔡正元) saying she needed to answer to international pressure over Taiwan to “not unify, not declare independence and not use force.”
It remains unclear how Tsai’s approach will be received by Beijing, which yesterday insisted that Taiwan retain the so-called “1992 consensus” as a basis for cross-strait talks and espoused by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
The DPP disputes the validity of the supposed agreement, which calls for “one China, but separate interpretations.”
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
HORROR STORIES: One victim recounted not realizing they had been stabbed and seeing people bleeding, while another recalled breaking down in tears after fleeing A man on Friday died after he tried to fight the knife-wielding suspect who went on a stabbing spree near two of Taipei’s busiest metro stations, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. The 57-year-old man, identified by his family name, Yu (余), encountered the suspect at Exit M7 of Taipei Main Station and immediately tried to stop him, but was fatally wounded and later died, Chiang said, calling the incident “heartbreaking.” Yu’s family would receive at least NT$5 million (US$158,584) in compensation through the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp’s (TRTC) insurance coverage, he said after convening an emergency security response meeting yesterday morning. National
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency yesterday launched a gift box to market honey “certified by a Formosan black bear” in appreciation of a beekeeper’s amicable interaction with a honey-thieving bear. Beekeeper Chih Ming-chen (池明鎮) in January inspected his bee farm in Hualien County’s Jhuosi Township (卓溪) and found that more than 20 beehives had been destroyed and many hives were eaten, with bear droppings and paw prints near the destroyed hives, the agency said. Chih returned to the farm to move the remaining beehives away that evening when he encountered a Formosan black bear only 20m away, the agency said. The bear
RSS