Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DPP DELIVERS BROADSIDE AGAINST CHINA'S ANTI-SECESSION LAW

ROC Central News Agency

2005-03-08 21:31:13

    Taipei, March 8 (CNA) The leaders of ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lambasted China's anti-secession law Tuesday as Beijing's National People's Congress (NPC) was set to pass it, but have not decided whether to organize a large-scale demonstration to protest against it.

    The DPP Central Standing Committee professed in a resolution its firm objection to the law, calling it a war-mandating bill that will disrupt the stability across the Taiwan Strait.

    The resolution urges China to refrain from enacting the law, saying NPC discussion of the law has already stirred up Taiwan people's opposition and indignation. As the ruling party of Taiwan, the DPP will not sit idly by when Taiwan's status is changed by China unilaterally, the foundation of Taiwan's democracy is undermined, and the fundamental interests of Taiwan are hurt.

    DPP Secretary-General Lee Yi-yang said the anti-secession law is a regressive act that provides China with an excuse to invade Taiwan.

    He said his party wants to develop a peaceful framework with China to ensure long-term peace across the Taiwan Strait, but China should refrain from hurting the feelings of the Taiwan people and stop disrupting the peace and stability between the two sides.

    The DPP secretary-general refused to say whether his party will greet the enactment of the law with a large-scale demonstration, saying that it depends on the text of the law, which has not yet made public.

    The DPP has vowed to stage a mass demonstration in three scenarios -- if the anti-secession law imposes penalties on Taiwan people, or leads to changes to the status quo across the strait, or damages Taiwan's basic national interests.

    In a related development Tuesday, DPP Legislator Lai Chin-teh, the whip of DPP caucus at the Legislative Yuan, said his caucus would support whatever responses are taken by the DPP leadership and administration, such as amending the Constitution or staging a protest.

    Premier Frank Hsieh suggested earlier in the day deleting the General Provisions of the Constitution which provide for the country's official name as the Republic of China should the anti-secession law mandate China to invade Taiwan with force at whatever time it wishes.

    Lai said the people of Taiwan will certainly support the premier's suggestion if the scenario he described takes place.

    Claiming that China's attempt to enact the law has destabilized the peace in the region, Lai called on the United States and the European Union to weigh in and mediate the disputes between Taiwan and China.

    Yen Wan-chin, DPP deputy secretary-general, said the law gives China the option for taking over Taiwan by "non-peaceful means" under certain situations and pointed out that "non-peaceful means" is a euphemism for "use of force."

    Therefore, the law is nothing but a war-mandating law, Yen said, adding that some political parties still claim the law is aimed at pro-independence activists in Taiwan.

    He urged these parties to forge a common front with the DPP in facing up to China.

    Yen said his party would like to encourage exchanges with China, including the start of direct transportation links across the strait, but added that the party has the responsibility to warn local people that Beijing has not given up its designs against Taiwan, a point they should keep in mind when dealing with China.

    Legislator Chen Ching-chun, who is the secretary of the DPP caucus at the legislature, criticized China for turning a blind eye to the fact that Taiwan has been a separate state from China for a long time.

    The anti-secession law has shown China's failure to realize the political reality and has underlined its aggressive characteristics, Chen said.

    Chen said the DPP will not accept China's shameless assumption that it has the right to determine Taiwan's future and will never waver in its determination to defend the sovereignty of Taiwan.

(By Maubo Chang)

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