KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) sought yesterday to portray President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) as a supporter of Taiwan independence, telling foreign journalists the position was Chen's "basic line of thinking."
Lien said Chen refuses to acknowledge the so-called "1992 consensus" of "one China, with each side making its own interpretation," in order to court pro-independence supporters.
Chen and others have said that no consensus was ever reached with China. In addition, Chen has said that accepting the consensus would be tantamount to giving up Taiwan's sovereignty and agreeing to Beijing's proposed "one country, two systems."
Lien said yesterday the "1992 consensus" and "one country, two systems" were "totally unrelated" ideas. "In term of cross-strait relations, Taiwan independence is the basic line of thinking of President Chen Shui-bian," Lien told foreign journalists, who are visiting Taiwan to cover Saturday's elections.
"He needs the support of pro-independence fundamentalists -- especially during elections -- as this is the basic source of his votes."
In addition, Lien denied that the KMT was cooperating with China to undermine the DPP government.
He dismissed allegations that KMT members have visited China to urge Beijing not to resume talks with Chen's administration.
"We have had no contact with the communist party or the government on the mainland," Lien said.
Although a number of KMT members have traveled to China over the past year to attend conferences or visit relatives, they did not represent the party, he said.
Lien said that it's the party's basic position that Taiwan should interact with China peacefully and on equal footing.
Lien also responded to criticism by former president Lee Teng-hui (
"A political group or politician who is unable to improve the people's well-being and protect Taiwan's security isn't qualified to talk about localization," Lien said.
Lien said the KMT was the only true localized party in Taiwan. He said other parties didn't even exist when the KMT was striving for Taiwan's stability and development in recent decades. (Opposition political parties -- though they existed -- were banned until martial law was lifted in 1987).
On Chen's proposal to form a "cross-party alliance for national stabilization," Lien said he hoped the move was not intended to further split the nation along the ethnic lines.
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