The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) plans to establish a set of protocols and regulations for party members when visiting China, party spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) said yesterday, but declined to disclose when the document would be published.
Following Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu’s (陳菊) visit to China to promote the 2009 World Games — which will be held in Kaohsiung from July 16 to July 26 — in her capacity as president of the World Games 2009 Kaohsiung Organizing Committee, Tainan City Mayor Hsu Tian-tsair (�?]), another DPP member, also announced on Wednesday that he would visit Xiamen, China, next month.
He will be there for the opening ceremony of the first cross-strait sailing competition. Saying that the trip would be purely based on sports and cultural exchanges, Hsu added that preparations for the visit had been underway for more than a year.
The competitors will set sail from Xiamen and finish at Tainan City’s Anping Port (安平港), where the medals will be handed out. An international yachting expo will also be held at the port at the same time.
Cheng yesterday said party headquarters would not comment on Hsu’s China visit until it received more information from the mayor himself.
“We are drawing up a list of protocols and regulations on the conduct of our ranking party staff when visiting China. The document is expected to be published in the near future,” said Cheng, refusing to divulge details regarding the protocols.
DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) was previously quoted by a Central News Agency report as saying that the DPP had no need to turn away from China, but added that it was essential to implement risk management measures.
Chen openly referred to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) as “president” and used the term “central government” when talking with Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong (郭金龍) during her visit.
The DPP lauded her actions as an example of standing up for Taiwan’s sovereignty.
On Wednesday, Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Yang Yi (楊毅) said Chen’s visit was “non-political” and that other DPP members were welcome to visit China.
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