Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) said yesterday that China's top cross-strait negotiator would be considered “unwelcome” if he made any remarks that harm Taiwan's sovereignty during his visit to Taipei early next month.
Fielding questions from Democratic Progressive Party legislators Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) and Chen Chi-yu (陳啟昱), the premier said any remarks from Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) Chairman Chen Yunlin (陳雲林) that belittle Taiwan would be “unacceptable.”
“I will definitely take strong measures [in response],” Liu said.
PHOTO: LIAO CHEN-HUEI, TAIPEI TIMES
“We will condemn such remarks and [he] will become an unwelcome guest,” Liu said.
Liu also described ARATS’ apology over the melamine food scandal “belated justice,” saying he was not entirely satisfied with the apology but the association's gesture was “acceptable.”
The Straits Exchange Foundation issued a statement on Monday saying it had received a letter from its Chinese counterpart asking the foundation to convey an apology to Taiwanese consumers and distributors for causing them trouble and losses with the food scare.
The letter described the scandal as “illegal dealing by some people,” adding that “we will not appease anyone who sabotages the health of consumers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.”
The letter also said ARATS would do all it can to mete out severe punishment to those responsible for the scandal and protect the rights of consumers.
“If the apology had come from the Chinese government itself, I would have been more satisfied,” Liu said.
“We will demand that he [Chen] offer [an apology when he visits Taipei]. Yesterday's letter was a gesture of goodwill,” Liu said, adding that the letter had helped create a better atmosphere for the upcoming round of cross-strait negotiations.
Liu said it was the government’s plan to arrange a meeting between President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Chen, but it was unlikely that the occasion would take place at the Grand Hotel, where the Chinese delegate would stay, because the president would be “receiving” rather than “visiting” Chen in accordance with diplomatic protocol.
When asked for comment on the DPP's plan to organize flash mobs to show its opposition to Chen’s visit by waving national flags, the premier said no national flags placed at the places Chen plans to visit would be removed.
“National flags will be at the places they are supposed to be. [I] am glad that the DPP has decided to show its love for the national flag and the country,” Liu said.
Liu said the government would not infringe upon the public's freedom of expression when Chen visits Taiwan, but the government would not tolerate any violence.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus secretary-general Chang Sho-wen (張碩文) said China had shown its sincerity with the apology issued by ARATS.
KMT Legislator John Chiang (蔣孝嚴) also described the letter as “obvious goodwill,” but he added that a verbal apology from China would be better.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said yesterday it had not received any application from China about the flights that would be transporting Chen and other ARATS officials, including from which airport they would arrive or leave Taiwan.
CAA Deputy Director General Lin Shinn-der (林信得) said the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) would notify the administration about the flight procedures. Lin said, however, that the application would be treated as a “special case” and could be processed within a day.
Lin also said it was likely Chen would arrive on an Air China flight, one of the largest airlines in China.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SHELLEY SHAN
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