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No contradiction in cross-strait trade policy: DPP candidate

ROC Central News Agency

2007-11-13 18:19:09

    Taipei, Nov. 13 (CNA) The ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP's) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh said Tuesday that his call for more open cross-strait trade relations does not contradict the policies of the current administration.

    Hsieh said he is floating his vision for cross-strait relations after his election, which is still sometime in the future, but Premier Chang Chun-hsiung's current cross-strait trade policy, which is based on the "proactive management, effective opening" principle advocated by President Chen Shui-bian, is a present undertaking. "The two are different, but not contradictory," he added.

    He was responding to media reports that he is "out of sync" with the president on the issue of cross-strait relations. Reports noted that Hsieh said Monday that if the government continues to manage cross-strait trade exchanges, "Taiwan will be left with nothing."

    Hsieh also said that Intel, the world's largest chip maker, has decided to go to China, if Taiwan continues to isolate itself by refusing to reach out, it will gradually lose its competitive edge, the reports added.

    Commenting on Hsieh's words, the president said Tuesday that the remarks should be taken as "election language, " and "election strategy."

    Hsieh said that he was speaking of his campaign platform, which is something he wants to put into practice in the future, while the premier's policy addresses things to be done at this moment. "My campaign platform aims at making up for the deficiencies of the present administration," Hsieh said.

    Recent reports have dwelt on Hsieh's maintaining some distance from President Chen on issues of economic development and cross-strait relations, apparently in a bid to woo middle-of-the-road voters for the March 22, 2008 presidential election.

    Reports cited as examples that while Hsieh advocated a "well-being economy, " the president said openly in a weekly meeting of DPP Central Standing Committee last week that "a good economy will not ensure election success."

    After Hsieh advocated that the present 40 percent ceiling on investment in China by Taiwanese enterprises be eased by having each project reviewed on a "case by case" basis, President Chen immediately said that the ban will not be lifted while he remains in office. Chen's term expires on May 20, 2008.

(By Lilian Wu)

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