On Wednesday, President Chen Shui-bian (
Of the seven points, the third stands out, because it stipulates that all cross-strait exchanges should conform to existing laws.
Anyone who signs an agreement with any government abroad or "across the Strait," or sends an envoy as signatory, without authorization from the government, should be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Vice Chairman Chiang Pin-kun (
If Chiang is not indicted, how will we stem the pan-blue camp's enthusiasm about China, push back the influx of Chinese propaganda and expose Beijing's goodwill gesture to Taiwanese farmers for what it is? Chiang must be brought to justice.
The third point is similar to Article 113 of the Criminal Code, but it backs up the definition of foreign governments by including the phrase "across the Strait."
The point is that the Beijing administration is a foreign government and it is evident that Chiang broke the law by heading a delegation to China and signing a 10-point agreement with Chen Yunlin (
Defending Chiang and his party, Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
If the People's Republic of China (PRC) is not a foreign country, is it part of "our" country?
The Ministry of Justice will have to respond to Chen's guidelines. Minister of Justice Morley Shih (
In all honesty, Chiang's actions are already in blatant violation of existing law. If Chiang is found guilty, he will be facing a sentence of between seven years and life in jail.
Whether or not KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
Since Taiwan obeys the rule of law, the case will simply have to be played by the book.
However, it is certain that Chiang will defend himself by quoting Ma's statement that "China is not a foreign country to us." Therefore, the Council of Grand Justices will have to come forward and interpret or clarify the Constitutional issue what of "one China" means.
I believe that the Republic of China and the PRC are two countries. Each side is independent of the other.
Chiang's meeting with Chinese officials and the conclusion of the 10-point agreement obviously violated the law.
If the Council of Grand Justices were to issue an interpretation of the Constitution, it will help to clearly define the difference between Taiwan and China and resolve a political dispute through legal means.
Chin Heng-wei is a political commentator and editor-in-chief of Contemporary magazine.
TRANSLATED BY DANIEL CHENG
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