Thu, Jan 02, 2003 page4

• Critics pan president's comments

  CROSSFIRE In his New Year's Day message, Chen Shui-bian expressed his hopes for peace with China, but his speech was criticized by members from both political camps

  • By Sandy Huang / STAFF REPORTER
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  Direct transportation links with China ought not to be thought of as the first step toward setting the stage for cross-strait peace, said director of the TSU's Department of Culture and Information Hsiao Kwan-yu (蕭貫譽) yesterday.

  "Of course we hope for peaceful cross-strait relations," Hsiao said. "However, it [peace] ought not to be come from Taiwan's wishful thinking as long as China continues its oppression of Taiwan."

  Hsiao's remarks came in response to President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) New Year's message.

  In his New Year's speech, Chen called on "both Taiwan and China to strive toward building a framework of interaction for peace and stability."

  Chen said that "consultation and promotion of direct transportation links, as well as exchanges of other relevant and cultural interactions, could constitute a first step toward peace and set the stage for further [cross-strait] economic and cultural interaction."

  Hsiao said that direct transportation links with China should not be framed as a merely an economic issue.

  "Direct transportation links with China matters greatly to the nation's security," Hsiao told the Taipei Times. "Therefore Taiwan must hold fast to its sovereignty and national integrity when speaking of direct transportation links."

  As long as China shows no substantial good-will but continues to oppress Taiwan by viewing Taiwan as a local government and refusing to renounce force against the nation, Taiwan's talk on direct transportation links as the first step toward a peaceful cross-strait relations would only be wishful thinking, Hsieh said.

  Stressing that direct transportation links is Taiwan's most precious bargaining chip, "we must not use it to please China," Hsiao said.

  Responding to Chen's remarks, a KMT official said that the party hopes Chen will not just pay lip service to good relations.

  Lee Chuan-chiao (李全教), the KMT's legislative caucus whip said, "President Chen often says one thing and does another with regard to cross-strait policy.

  "We hope that the government will take the initiative and not just say the same old slogans."

  KMT Legislator Lin Nan-sheng (林南生) said that with regard to cross-strait relations, Chen has been all talk and no action during the past two and half years of his presidency.

  "If [paying lip service] is how Chen intends to act to, it will only give China the impression that Taiwan doesn't mean what it says about wanting to promote constructive development in cross-strait relations," Lin said.

  Lin added that if Chen means what he said about cross-strait relations, then he should try to work on establishing a consensus among all four political parties at the Legislative Yuan with regard to direct transportation links.

  PFP legislative whip Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄) said that he "hopes Chen's remarks will not just be another one of his slogans."

  Liu added that all would have to wait and observe the government's performance to see if Chen really means what he said in his speech.
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