Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) yesterday suggested that the government engage in cross-strait interactions via a “second track,” which would involve think tanks, academics and “former government officials.”
Chiang at yesterday’s legislative question-and-answer session pressed Mainland Affairs Council Minister Katherine Chang (張小月) on whether the government that took over last month has so far “maintained the [cross-strait] ‘status quo’ that it has promised to maintain.”
“Has the cross-strait status quo been maintained since May 20? [I just need] a simple answer,” Chiang asked, repeating the question several times.
Chang refused to answer the question directly, saying that cross-strait peace has been maintained and is stable, but that there is room for improvement.
Chang was also questioned on whether any direct calls via the “hotline” between her and China’s Taiwan Affairs Council Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍) have been made and whether negotiation on functional matters between the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) has been ongoing since May 20.
“The hotline is for major or urgent issues,” Chang responded, saying that no direct call with Zhang has taken place since the new administration took office “as there have not been any major issues.”
As for functional negotiations between the SEF and ARATS, Chang said that would “require efforts from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.”
Chiang said he considers the current state, with no direct calls being made and the functional negotiations halted, tantamount to a “cold standoff.”
He asked whether Premier Lin Chuan (林全) has ever thought about engaging in cross-strait interactions via a “second track,” which would be carried out by non-governmental individuals, such as think tank representatives, academics and former government officials.
Lin said that he would not rule out promoting friendly communication if such interactions are undertaken on an “equal footing” and under the condition that the nation’s dignity is not compromised.
The “second track” proposal raised by Chiang echoed what KMT Vice Chairman Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said on Saturday last week in Yunnan, China, about expecting the party to be a “second-track” mechanism for cross-strait peace.
Meanwhile, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lee Kun-tse (李昆澤) criticized the management of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, which suffered a water outage due to construction on Monday and several leaks in the second terminal yesterday.
Lee said that the public is now watching how the new government is going to tackle the problems of the Taoyuan airport.
“This will be an important performance indicator. If the new government cannot save the airport, how would the public have faith in us and leave the nation to us?” Lee asked.
Lin said that the airport’s management has “failed to meet [his] expectations,” adding that he has required the new president of Taoyuan International Airport Corp to file a report within a month.
Lin added that he has also talked to Minister of Transportation and Communications Hochen Tan (賀陳旦) about inviting foreign experts to examine the airport on various levels, such as its operations, architecture, emergency response and anti-terror mechanism.
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