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DPP calls for SEF
head to quit over Chinese passports
AGAINST THE TREND: Lin Join-sane invoked the
DPP’s wrath by saying China assured him maps showing Taiwan as its territory
were just ‘trendy’
By Chris Wang / Staff reporter
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday said that it was “furious and
shocked” to learn of remarks Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Lin
Join-sane (林中森) had made about China’s controversial passports and demanded Lin
step down for his inappropriate comments.
Lin on Monday said he had expressed Taiwan’s concerns on the passports, which
show areas Beijing has no jurisdiction over — including Taiwan — as part of
China’s territory, in his recent meeting with Beijing officials in China.
Lin said the Chinese officials had told him that there are two editions of the
passports and that the new ones were not official and the changes had been made
based on style considerations with the aim of “being trendy” and “without any
[other] particular motive in mind.”
“We are furious, shocked and bewildered about [Lin Join-sane’s] remarks. When
Vietnam, India and the Philippines all reacted to Beijing’s infringing on their
territorial sovereignty, Lin Join-sane told us the passport design was just a
matter of China seeking to be ‘trendy,’” DPP spokesperson Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲)
told reporters.
“Given Lin’s lack of experience and expertise in cross-strait affairs and
negotiation, he is not equipped to defend Taiwan’s dignity and sovereignty and
should step down from his post,” the spokesman added.
The party also expressed its disappointment over President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九)
remarks in a radio interview on Monday, in which he said that this year’s
increases in fuel and electricity prices were the result of a recommendation
made the state-owned Taiwan Power Co (Taipower).
“Ma was the one who ignored suggestions of the opposition and academics and
unilaterally made the decision to raise the price at the time, but now he’s
trying to hold Taipower responsible for his decision,” Lin Chun-hsien said.
The DPP was disappointed with the president, who has always appeared to maintain
an attitude of “it’s everyone’s fault but mine” and made himself out to be
someone who could do no wrong, Lin Chun-hsien said.
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