Tue, Oct 26, 2004 page3

• Campaign focus on cross-strait issues puzzles some

  LEGISLATIVE CONCERNS Many candidates are stumping on international issues, rather than more grassroots worries such as health insurance or the economy

  • By Caroline Hong / STAFF REPORTER
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  When former Democratic Progres-sive Party (DPP) chairman Hsu hsin-liang (許信良) on Sunday announced his vision of future cross-strait relations, he added his voice to those belonging to a growing number of legislative candidates suggesting solutions for relations with China.

  Hsu's proposal, which calls for a partnership based on the EU, caused little stir in an election campaign which has been largely dominated by the pan-green and pan-blue's appeals to voters about the importance of each side's winning a majority in the year-end elections.

  The independent Hsu, however, is not alone. Definitions of national identity have become a focus in the elections, with members of the opposition using the topic to promote their individual campaigns.

  It might seem strange that candidates are not focusing their campaigns on the concerns of the voters in their districts, but instead are wrapped up in national issues such as cross-strait relations.

  Given the tense political environment after the March presidential elections, however, legislative hopefuls said that such a focus was not surprising.

  "Since the presidential election, it's become much more important for the pan-blue camp to maintain its hold of the legislature. The Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] government has already worsened cross-strait relations, and that is the most important thing on the minds of the Taiwanese people," said People First Party (PFP) Legislator Pan Chien-kuo (龐建國).

  Pan-blue supporters, Pan said, are very concerned with cross-strait relations precisely because of the rule of the pro-independence DPP. As a result, many within the pan-blue camp view winning a majority of seats in the December polls as the only failsafe path for a peaceful future, something that the pan-blue leadership has repeatedly emphasized to voters in recent weeks.

  The PFP made a proposal for cross-strait negotiations the centerpiece of its legislative campaign. The PFP's Taiwan peace law (促進海峽兩岸和平法) calls for the establishment of a cross-party council to negotiate with China about specific economic and cultural goals.

  Pan said Hsu's EU-style proposal is similar to that of the PFP's bill -- and that while he supported the spirit behind Hsu's idea, he was unsure if it would increase Hsu's election chances.

  "To be honest, Hsu's position is marginalized. His proposal may not have the effect it would if he were in a more influential position," Pan said.

  Another voice that has come out recently about cross-strait issues is that of Taipei City Councilor Lin Chin-chang (林晉章) -- another legislative candidate.

  Lin, who is a KMT Central Committee member, pointed out that while the KMT's central leadership has been careful to maintain that it supports the "Republic of China," it has yet to clearly state what that means.

  "I decided to form the Movement to Abandon the `One China' Policy Alliance to suggest an answer for the party's cross-strait platform," Lin said.

  He is running for a legislative seat in Taipei without the KMT's endorsement. But despite the lack of party support, Lin has effectively publicized his campaign in Taipei by calling for the KMT to drop its adherence to the "one China" policy in order to stay abreast of mainstream voter consciousness.

  The potency behind his proposal, Lin said, could be seen during the establishment of his alliance on Sunday in Taipei, when over 1,000 people attending the launch ceremony voted in favor of the policy's abandonment.

  Lin justified his position by noting that a recent survey indicating that 40 percent of voters believe that the pan-blue camp should take up his proposal on the policy.

  Pan, however, is less certain of the idea's appeal to pan-blue voters.

  "Lin's campaign is actually more appealing to the `shallow-green' voters," Pan said.

  Others within the pan-blue camp have called the candidates' focus on cross-strait solutions mere election gimmicks.

  "How can it be helpful for these candidates to stir up the people by proposing solutions like that [Hsu and Lee's]?" said KMT Legislator Hsu Chung-hsiung (徐中雄) yesterday. "There's no way that an answer can actually be found for the cross-strait problem during the next three years [while Chen is president]."

  Speaking by phone, he said he believes candidates should focus their campaigns on domestic issues such as health insurance, the environment and the economy.
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