In view of the opposition parties' frequent trips across the Taiwan Strait, the premier yesterday said that they should stop trying to sell the idea of "`one China.' with each side having its own interpretation" in Taiwan when they make no mention of it in China.
"The opposition can't just keep talking about `one China, with each side having its own interpretation' in Taiwan and then, upon arrival in China, let the Republic of China disappear [from their lips]," said Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday while giving a speech at the Ketagalan Institute.
Su said that Taiwanese people are far too kind and forget about certain issues too easily.
PHOTO: LIU HSIN-DE, TAIPEI TIMES
Those visiting China would have been branded traitors back in the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) era, he said. However, former government officials now openly promote their trips to China and even communicate with the Chinese Communist Party in public.
"It seems to me that these people have short memories," Su said.
Su said it was a sign that Taiwan's democracy had become a lot more mature, because society was open to different ideas and ways of thinking. In addition, more and more Taiwanese people have learned how to appreciate the differences between different people and political parties, he said.
Elaborating on the value of Taiwan's democracy, Su said it was a reason why Taiwan and China should be separate.
"Taiwan can never be unified with an undemocratic country," Su said. "What we have today in Taiwan was achieved by so many generations and such a thing cannot be denied."
"[China] does not understand the meaning of democracy because it has never enjoyed it," Su said. "However, in Taiwan, we have fought for so many years to arrive at where we are today. The way we live and the way we are so valuable that it cannot be taken away by anybody else so easily."
"We have been constantly encouraging our fellow businessmen not to put all their investment in China because it is dangerous. It is like putting all their eggs into one basket," he added.
Taiwan has received more than US$70 million in royalties as of the end of last year from developing the F-16V jet as countries worldwide purchase or upgrade to this popular model, government and military officials said on Saturday. Taiwan funded the development of the F-16V jet and ended up the sole investor as other countries withdrew from the program. Now the F-16V is increasingly popular and countries must pay Taiwan a percentage in royalties when they purchase new F-16V aircraft or upgrade older F-16 models. The next five years are expected to be the peak for these royalties, with Taiwan potentially earning
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