Sat, Nov 02, 2002 page1

• Direct talks for direct links, government told

  NO COMPROMISE Talks with China on opening direct links must be government-to-government in nature or green camp lawmakers will call for a no-confidence vote

  • By Crystal Hsu / STAFF REPORTER
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  The issue of direct links with China continued to grip the legislature yesterday as ruling lawmakers urged the government to insist on the principle of parity and dignity when dealing with Beijing.

  Meanwhile the opposition PFP blamed its KMT allies for failing to take a tough stance in a joint bid to push for rules aimed at facilitating direct transport links across the Strait.

  

  DPP Legislator Trong Chai, third left, yesterday leads his pan-green colleagues in a call for the government to conduct talks on direct links on a ``government-to-governmen'' basis.

  PHOTO: LIU HSIN-TE, TAIPEI TIMES

  Wary of ulterior motives behind Beijing's recent goodwill gestures, legislators from the DPP and the TSU warned the government not to rush into making reckless concessions.

  TSU legislative leader Lin Chih-lung (林志隆) said any talks on direct links must be defined as state-to-state in nature, or his party will seek a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet.

  He said the TSU backs President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) remark a day earlier in which he said that it will take the governments on both sides of the Strait to iron out differences hampering full-scale cross-strait exchanges.

  "We will not rule out the possibility of launching a no-confidence vote against the Cabinet if the DPP does anything to harm Taiwan's sovereignty," Lin said.

  The TSU has said China is not sincere in promoting direct transportation with Taiwan but is using the issue to advance its unification scheme.

  Ho Min-hao (何敏豪), another TSU legislator, noted that over the years China has consistently used economic means for political ends against Taiwan.

  He said this was behind Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen's (錢其琛) recent redefinition of direct links as an economic issue for which recognition of "one China" is not necessary to jumpstart talks.

  DPP lawmaker Trong Chai (蔡同榮) echoed Ho's suspicions and cautioned the Chen administration to guard against Beijing's sugar-coated rhetoric.

  He said the government must not make any concessions over sovereignty when seeking to warm cross-strait ties and that matters of such importance cannot be mediated by any civilian agencies or private envoys.

  "China, if genuinely interested in pursuing direct links, should contact authorities here," Chai said. "Our insistence on the principle of parity and dignity remains unchanged and steadfast."

  Fellow DPP Legislator Charles Chiang (江昭儀) said he noticed that direct links are the aspiration of many though they will have both positive and negative impacts on the country.

  "Let these negotiations be carried out between two equal sover-eignties if the trend is inevitable," he said.

  In related development, the PFP charged the KMT for siding with the ruling camp in defiance of a bipartisan agreement during a review of cross-strait laws Thursday evening.

  PFP lawmaker Lee Ching-hua (李慶華) said defection by a couple of KMT lawmakers foiled an opposition attempt to ram through a bill requiring the government to lift the ban on direct transport links within six months.

  "I found it odd for an opposition party to endorse the Cabinet's policy initiative and abandon a competitive version introduced by its ally," Lee said.

  The KMT caucus, seeking to placate the PFP, denied a double-cross and promised to salvage the bill during its second and third readings by the end of next month.

  KMT legislative Lee Chuan-chia (李全教) said his party will abide by an earlier cross-party consensus and push for direct links as best it can.

  He urged the PFP to calm its anger and continue bipartisan cooperation.
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