|
Groups slam Ma over 'never' comment
'BIG BLUNDER' : Activists accused Ma of compromising
national security and going against the public will when he said he would
'never' ask the US to fight for Taiwan
By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
Thursday, May 13, 2010, Page 3
Independence activists yesterday said President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) had
disqualified himself as a national leader following his controversial remark
that Taiwan “will never ask the Americans to fight for Taiwan in a war.”
The Taiwan Nation Alliance and Taiwan National Security Institute issued a joint
statement, in Chinese and English, denouncing Ma for seriously compromising
Taiwan's security and discrediting himself as Taiwan's head of state.
They said Ma's remarks “fundamentally contravene the majority will of the people
of Taiwan” and that the overwhelming majority of Taiwanese welcomed US support
for maintaining peace and security in the Taiwan Strait, including dispatching
soldiers if necessary.
They also said the will of the majority dovetailed with the US interest of
seeing a democratic, free and prosperous Taiwan and maintaining peace and
security in the East Asian region.
Ma's submission to China would lead to the ultimate extinction of Taiwan and
turmoil in East Asia, they said.
Ma's comment would pave the way for China's military conquest of Taiwan and his
attempt to sell out Taiwan would be repudiated by Taiwanese in the presidential
election in 2012, they said.
They appealed to the US to continue to sell Taiwan defensive weapons, including
F-16C/D fighter jets and submarines, and maintain its commitment to safeguarding
peace and security in the Taiwan Strait.
Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文) said Ma
seemed to speak on behalf of China rather than Taiwan.
“What he said runs against Taiwan's security and national interest,” he said.
“Taiwan needs international support and we must accelerate the effort to build a
Taiwanese nation.”
Taiwan New Century Foundation chairman Chen Lung-chu (陳隆志) said Ma made a “big
blunder” when he made the remarks and Ma did not speak for most Taiwanese.
“We the Taiwanese people realize that we must do our utmost to defend and
protect our nation,” Chen said. “But in a globalized world of ever increasing
interdependence and danger, which country in the world can really stand alone?
Collective security of mutual defense and assistance is the answer.”
Chen said Taiwan now has a president who has shown “every sign of leaning on
China and of submitting to China's will in [Ma's] pursuit of so-called ‘ultimate
unification with China,’” adding that Ma betrayed his campaign promises and
acted against the popular will of the Taiwanese people.
Saying Ma’s remarks would invite great disaster, former representative to Japan
Koh Se-kai (許世楷) said he hoped Ma made the remarks out of ignorance and not
intentionally.
Reverend William Luo (羅榮光) of the Presbyterian Church urged Taiwanese voters
“never” to elect Ma again, describing him as dictatorial and determined to sell
out Taiwan.
|
