Former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) yesterday urged the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to pay more attention to national security issues amid the recent military exercises by the US and to draw up a comprehensive global strategy for Taiwan by 2012.
Lu said the US’ recent military exercises were aimed at strengthening its ties with Asian countries and joining them to resist China’s military buildup in the Taiwan Strait.
The former vice president urged the DPP to look beyond the November elections and put a greater focus on defending Taiwan’s independence.
PHOTO: CNA
“Facing the prospect of China turning the Taiwan Strait into an inland sea, DPP leaders should not focus all their attention on local elections. We need more people from the party to care about Taiwan’s [sovereign] future,” she said.
“There are elections every year, and the DPP should look beyond this year’s five municipality elections and focus more attention on the future of Taiwan,” she said.
Since DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is devoting her efforts to running in the Sinbei City mayoral race, other DPP officials should should focus on national security issues and continue the discussion of the party’s 10-year master platform, Lu said.
As the nation’s largest opposition party, the DPP should lead the way for those who care about Taiwan’s independent future, she added.
She also alleged that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) is ultimately seeking unification with China via a diplomatic truce and the recently signed cross-strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA).
“Apparently, the two sides of the Taiwan Strait plan to eventually move from economic cooperation to political unification,” she said.
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