The People First Party yesterday criticized the "one country, three systems" proposal put forth by the New Party as one that would wipe out Taiwan, as the two parties continued to haggle over their cross-strait policies.
The New Party's proposal supports unification with China after a number of unresolved issues are agreed to.
These issues include deciding what China and Taiwan will be called once they unify and the extent of autonomy Taiwan will be given. The proposal also supports a step-by-step progression to eventual unification.
Chang Hsien-yao (
In the agreement they pledged to support "one China with different interpretations" for cross-strait negotiations and to develop cross-strait relations in accordance with the Guidelines for National Unification.
"We should handle cross-strait relations flexibly and maintain Taiwan's autonomy and security. We can never agree to the New Party's `one country, three systems' proposal," Chang said.
The three parties, after fighting for days over the PFP's claim to lead the opposition alliance, have redirected their focus to their differences on cross-strait policies.
On Wednesday, PFP Chairman James Soong (
Further elaborating on Soong's remark yesterday, Chang said the PFP supports developing cross-strait relations according to a step-by-step "integration" model that would allow the people of Taiwan to find a common ground on the long-standing dispute of unification versus independence.
Chang said the PFP's proposal is consistent with the mainstream trend because over 60 percent of Taiwanese are in favor of maintaining the status quo.
In response to the PFP's criticism, New Party Deputy Secretary-general Thomas Ho (何振盛) said that the PFP's policy aimed only to procrastinate, which would cause Taiwan to lose any advantages it has in cross-strait negotiations.
Ho said his party believes Taiwan should negotiate with China on an equal footing over the "one country, three systems" proposal.
Unlike Hong Kong and Macao, which were under colonial rule and lacked any leverage to negotiate with China, Taiwan is in a more advantageous position to negotiate, he said.
New Party legislator Elmer Fung (
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