A US-based, pro-Taiwanese independence organization on Friday criticized remarks made by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on cross-strait issues during his recent visit to Washington as "unreal, unclear and unacceptable."
The Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) said in a statement that the March 22-23 visit by Ma "raised more questions than it brought answers."
The group said that Ma has proposed forging a peace accord between Taiwan and China based on the so-called "1992 consensus," which according to the KMT refers to an understanding reached between Taipei and Beijing during 1992 talks held in Hong Kong that each side maintained its own interpretation of the meaning of "one China."
"The key problem with this rosy scenario is that China never accepted the KMT's version of `each side with its own interpretation.' In fact, it recently became clear that the `1992 consensus' never existed: KMT Legislator Su Chi (蘇起) [former chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council] admitted it was a fabrication," the FAPA noted.
While Ma's proposal presupposes the People's Republic of China will accept the Republic of China as a sovereign entity, Beijing has consistently rejected the existence of the ROC as such, it said.
It said Beijing has insisted Taiwan accept the "one China" principle as a precondition for resuming dialogue with Taiwan, which has been rejected by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government because this would violate the sovereignty of Taiwan as a free and democratic nation, but Ma said nothing about whether he would accept Beijing's "one China" definition.
On Taiwan's long-stalled arms procurement package from the US, the FAPA accused Ma of trying to "play the partisan game" by blaming the DPP government for the delay, but failing to mention that it was the KMT that had blocked the procurement plan's budget proposal 48 times in the Legislative Yuan over the past two years.
Addressing Ma's opposition to the purchase of PAC-III missile defense system on the grounds that the issue "failed" in a referendum held in March 2004, the FAPA clarified that 90 percent of the people who participated in the ballot were in favor of beefing up the country's anti-missile armaments, although the turnout did not reach 50 percent as required by law.
footing the bill
Meanwhile, back in Taipei, DPP city councilors Lan Shih-tsung (藍世聰) criticized Ma for having Taipei residents pay for his US trip and all the related expenses.
Lan said Ma, prior to his US trip, claimed that the KMT would stump up most of the bill for his US tour.
However, according to the city government's secretariat, the city government originally proposed a NT$1.96 million (US$60,000) budget for the trip. By Friday, the figure had increased to NT$3.27 million, Lan said.
Ma should make it clear whether he was Mayor Ma leading city officials to visit Taipei sister cities in the US, or Chairman Ma promoting the KMT's platform in the US, Lan said.
The city government's secretariat said the NT$ 1.96 million was an original assessment, but after more Taipei City Government officials joined the trip, the amount had increased. The secretariat said it will speak with the KMT about the bill after Ma concludes his trip and returns to Taiwan on Wednesday.
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