KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
"Taiwan needs to be self-dependent, and we insist on maintaining the Republic of China's sovereignty and independence. Taiwan's future needs to be decided by its 23 million people," Lien said.
"We would never accept `one country, two systems' nor would we ever accept Taiwan becoming America's pawn," Lien said.
Lien made the statements while giving a speech to the Taiwan Hakka Forum Association's Spring/Summer Reading Group.
Speaking exclusively in Hakka, Lien went on to say that Taiwanese people should identify with each other and respect each other, and that politicians should not try to deepen the rift between the races.
"All 23 million people are a part of Taiwan, and we cannot practice racial chauvinism or separation ... All races should be equal and get along harmoniously, live and prosper together," Lien said.
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
"We could never accept `one country, two-systems' -- it is the KMT's long-standing directive. Former president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國) opposed it when it was first mentioned back in the 1980s. He said that it should be `one country, one good system," said Ma, who is also KMT deputy chairman.
The mention of Chiang seemed to lend credence to the DPP's claim that the pan-blue camp is clutching at the ghost of the Chiang Dynasty. But Ma vehemently denied that there would be a restoration of the Chiangs.
"Restoration will not be an issue because Taiwan's politics and Taiwan's president are operating under the regulation of our constitution," Ma said.
Ma responded to Lien's statement about the US by saying that any sovereign country should not become another's pawn.
The KMT leaders' declarations may be seen as the party's answer to the DPP's recent reassertion of its "one-country-on-each-side-of-the-Strait" formula. But when Lien was asked about what he thought about direct links between China and Taiwan, he said he did not know much about the issue.
The Taiwan Hakka Forum Association was established at the end of 2001 in the hope of participating in the making of public policies and involving Hakka elites in public issues.
The forum consists of Hakka scholars, doctors, lawyers and other professionals. It has maintained good relations with both the pan-blue and pan-green camps, having invited important figures from both groups to attend its activities.
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