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KMT CHAIRMAN UNDER ATTACK OVER 'ONE CHINA' REMARKS

ROC Central News Agency

2006-02-14 20:06:50

    Taipei, Feb. 14 (CNA) Opposition Kuomintang Chairman Ma Ying-jeou came under attack Tuesday by the "pan-green" camp of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), after he defined the relationship between Taiwan and China as "equal political partners under the 'one China' framework, " and warned that "unilateral separatism" will be "the antidote that invokes disaster" for Taiwan.

    Legislators from the two pro-independence parties accused Ma of acting as Beijing's mouthpiece and degrading Taiwan's status as a sovereign state that is independent of China.

    They were referring to a speech given by Ma at the London School of Economics and Political Science Monday, entitled "Bridging the Divide: A Vision for Peace in East Asia."

    Ma, a possible KMT contender for the 2008 presidency, said in the speech that the Constitution currently implemented in Taiwan was drafted under the "one China" principle, and that if in the future China becomes compatible with Taiwan in terms its political, economic and social development, the KMT would not rule out "ultimate unification" as an option in cross-Taiwan strait relations.

    However, Ma said the KMT was against any unilateral move to change the cross-strait status quo and that any move toward unification must be approved by the people of Taiwan, adding that the KMT had not set a timetable for unification.

    Ma expressed disapproval for what he described as steps taken by some of Taiwan's politicians to unilaterally separate Taiwan from China. According to Ma, these steps include planning to draft a new constitution, changing the official name of the country, putting into place "desinicization" policies aimed at severing Taiwan's connections with the Chinese culture, provoking hatred against China, suppressing cross-strait exchanges and engaging in a cross-strait arms race.

    Commenting on Ma's speech, Chen Chin-jun, a DPP legislative caucus whip, said Ma's statement dubbing Taiwan and China as "equal political partners under the 'one China' framework" signified a step backwards in cross-strait relations, compared with former President Lee Teng-hui's affirmation that China and Taiwan are "two equal political entities" or President Chen Shui-bian's assertion that Taiwan and China are "two countries on either side of the Taiwan Strait."

    The legislator stressed that the so-called "one-China" framework or "1992 consensus" was non-existent and that the fate of Taiwan should be decided by the people of Taiwan.

    He claimed it would be impossible for the people of Taiwan to vote for a presidential candidate who does not recognize Taiwan as an independent, sovereign state.

    Meanwhile, TSU legislative caucus convener, David C. Huang, said Ma was not the "new Taiwanese" he has termed himself but a "real Chinese" who denies Taiwan's sovereign status and embraces China.

    Huang said it was extremely inappropriate for Ma to "speak on China's behalf" and to warn Taiwan against practicing "separatism." "Intimidating the people of Taiwan on behalf of Beijing's regime, Ma is not even trying to conceal his alliance with the Chinese communists against Taiwan," Huang alleged.

    Huang said "there must be a timetable for unification in Ma's mind, " because Huang said Ma has repeatedly revealed his "greater China" mentality and goal for "ultimate unification" after assuming the KMT chairmanship last year.

    He reiterated that only the 23 million in Taiwan have the right to determine Taiwan's fate and urged Ma to stop "aligning himself with the Chinese communists" in order to boost his bid for the 2008 presidency.

(By Y.F. Low)

ENDITEM/diG