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Group cautions on
China talks
LINES IN THE SAND: A democracy organization has
questioned Frank Hsieh’s recent China trip, stating that he ‘did not have a
popular mandate to engage in such talks’
By Chris Wang / Staff reporter
While former premier Frank Hsieh’s (謝長廷) landmark visit to China is laudable, a
line needs to be drawn under cross-strait exchanges so that democracy and
freedom in Taiwan can be safeguarded, a democracy advocacy group said yesterday.
“Democratic and constitutional principles should be upheld in the exchanges
between the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP),”
Hsu Wei-chun (徐偉群), president of Taiwan Democracy Watch, an alliance of
academics, told a press conference.
Interactions between the DPP and the CCP should never involve politics and
neither political parties nor politicians have the right to engage in political
negotiations with Beijing without the authorization of the public, the group
said in a statement.
The group asked if Hsieh’s comments, including his “one Constitution, two
interpretations” initiative and appeal for both sides of the strait to work out
political differences, reflected the beginning of future political talks.
“Regardless of how brilliant your proposals may be, you did not have a popular
mandate to engage in such talks,” the group said of Hsieh’s interactions with
Chinese officials.
Another concern was the perception that “Beijing certification” was a ticket to
presidential electoral success, the Taiwan Democracy Watch said, adding that the
DPP should not strive to attain Beijing’s recognition of its China policy nor
bow down to the “one China” principle in order to return to power.
It is imperative for the DPP to conduct dialogue, not only with the CCP, but
also with Chinese civil society, Hsu said, adding that it was important that the
DPP obtain a true consensus among Taiwanese on democracy and freedom, Hsu said.
“I didn’t hear Hsieh mention anything about Taiwan’s democratic values, freedoms
or human rights while in China,” Hsu said.
Lai Chung-chiang (賴中強), a lawyer and Taiwan Democracy Watch board member, said
he had three “serious reminders” for China, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)
and the DPP.
Lai called for Beijing not to set any political preconditions on conducting
exchanges with the DPP and warned the KMT — which he said always collaborated
with China to contain the DPP — that the DPP’s refusal to recognize the “1992
consensus” would be a “bargaining chip” for both Taiwan and the KMT and would
also be beneficial to democratic development in Taiwan.
If the DPP agreed that political issues are the most difficult in the
cross-strait dialogue, then “why does is the DPP choosing to deal with it now?”
Lai asked.
The reason the DPP cannot break through the 45 percent suppport barrier in
national elections is because of its “KMT-ization,” rather than its China
policy, said Chu Ping-tzu (祝平次), a professor at National Tsing Hua University
and a Taiwan Democracy Watchboard member.
“A DPP which does not safeguard democratic principles would not be able to lead
this country, even if it returned to power,” Chu said.
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