Despite the president's hardening stance toward China, DPP officials stressed Taiwan would continue sending its goodwill to Beijing while sticking to its bottom line that the "one country, two systems" model is unacceptable to Taiwan.
President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) recent tough remarks on China have triggered concern among the public as some people are worried Chen's shift in attitude will rile Beijing and make the resumption of dialogue impossible.
Chen Chung-hsin (陳忠信), director of the DPP's Chinese Affairs department, said yesterday that the DPP remains committed to finding a peaceful resolution to the cross-strait impasse. He added that the party's efforts to push for a direct links initiative will also continue.
"But meanwhile, the government has to make our stance clear. We hope China will not harbor any illusions. There is no way we could accept the `one country, two systems' model as suggested by Beijing," he said yesterday.
Chen Chung-hsin made the comments in the wake of recent remarks by the president on cross-strait relations since he assumed the DPP chairmanship on July 21.
In his first two speeches, Chen suggested Taiwan would have to "take its own path" if China refuses to reciprocate Taiwan's goodwill.
Then on Tuesday, Chen rejected China's "one China principle," and asserted that Taiwan is a sovereign, independent country called the Republic of China.
Chen's recent remarks have been perceived as a shift in cross-strait policy, in the hopes of fostering a breakthrough on the issue before the end of Chen's term.
China has been suspicious of Chen since he assumed power two years ago for his previous pro-independence stance.
Seeking a chance to negotiate with China, Chen has mellowed his independence line.
In May, Chen extended two more olive branches, calling for the implementation of direct links and saying that he would push for party-to-party talks with Beijing leaders once he took over the DPP's reins.
But China has not reciprocated Chen's goodwill.
On July 21, when Chen assumed the party's chairmanship, China angered Taiwan with the surprise announcement that the Pacific island state of Nauru, one of Taiwan's few diplomatic allies, was switching ties to China.
Also on Tuesday, Chen said the party's 1999 resolution regarding Taiwan's future would be the party's guiding principle in dealing with cross-strait issues.
The resolution stipulates Taiwan is an independent state whose name is the ROC. Any changes regarding this independent status quo must be collectively determined by all people in Taiwan through a public referendum.
The announcement sought to put aside the party's platform formulated in 1991, which aims to establish an independent Taiwan republic and enact a new Constitution.
But party officials denied the DPP would drop the platform to comply with China's request so as to negotiate with Taiwan.
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