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No need for name change, KMT and PFP leaders say

Saying that the nation has no need to change its name, pan-blue leaders yesterday voiced their opposition to yesterday's demonstration urging the country's name be changed from "Republic of China" (ROC) to "Taiwan."

Speaking at the KMT's 16th national congress in Taipei, PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) argued that the nation needs not a change of its name but a change of heart.

KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) said that the responsibility of the leader of the ROC was to safeguard its existence.

"The responsibility of the one who is the leader of the Republic of China is to obey the ROC's Constitution and safeguard the ROC's existence," Lien said.

"The leader of the ROC should to be one who unifies its people, not divide them," Lien said, referring to DPP members participating in the demonstration whom Lien implied were under the leadership of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).

Chen did not actually participate in the march.

To rebut former president Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) statement last week that "the Republic of China no longer exists," Soong stressed that "Republic of China truly exists in name and form.

"What the Republic of China needs is a rectification of its heart, which is more urgent than rectification of its name," Soong said.

"[Rectifying the ROC's heart] means to be sincere in safeguarding its existence, love its people and be firm in beliefs and a loyal follower of Sun Yat-sen's (孫中山) doctrines that said democracy is of the people, for the people and by the people."

"The name of our country is called the Republic of China and the land we stand on is called Taiwan," Soong said.

The KMT's headquarters is located directly opposite the Presidential Office outside which the demonstrators gathered.

A large contingent of police were on guard in the vicinity to deal with any clashes that may have broken out between the pro-independence demonstrators and pan-blue elements, who are known for their pro-unification pro-China stance.
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