KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday poured cold water on President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) proposal to restart a cross-party advisory group on cross-strait relations.
Lien said the KMT has no idea what the government's cross-strait policy is and is therefore unable to offer any comment on the issue.
Showing his disapproval of the DPP's denial of the so-called "1992 consensus" that the KMT believes is the key to a resumption of cross-strait dialogue, Lien said it is the responsibility of those in power to work to improve cross-strait relations.
Lien suggested that the government clearly state its position before seeking talks with China.
On Thursday, Chen said that the government would restart the president's Advisory Group on Cross-strait Relations (
The group was formed soon after Chen's inauguration in May 2000 and was intended to include representatives from all major parties.
But both the KMT and the PFP refused to join on the grounds that the group's function overlapped with that of the National Unification Council -- another presidential-level advisory body set up by former president Lee Teng-hui (
Even the New Party decided to quit a few months after it joined the advisory panel.
Shen Fu-hsiung (
Shen added that the advisory group should include opinions from all sides to fully reflect Taiwan's unification-independence spectrum.
Meanwhile, Wang Tuoh (王拓), chief executive of the DPP legislative caucus, urged the opposition parties to take an active role in the group, saying the consensus reached by the body would help create an appropriate cross-strait policy.
Wang added that the existence of the advisory group is not in conflict with the National Unification Council, nor will it hamper the council's function.
Wang said the council should continue to exist, but believes its title should be changed.
Many DPP members have frowned upon the designation because it makes "unification" a condition for cross-strait talks, Wang noted.
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