DPP rejects China's call to give up pro-independence stance
ROC Central News Agency
Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) The main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Wednesday rejected Chinese President Hu Jintao's call for it to abandon its pro-Taiwan independence cause, dismissing the appeal as bucking the cardinal principle of democracy.
"Hu should understand that Taiwan is a democratic society in which no one is entitled to demand that another give up his or her political stance or ideals," said DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen.
Tsai made the remarks after Hu urged the DPP to "clearly understand the situation and stop secessionist activities, " in a speech delivered earlier in the day to mark the 30th anniversary of a message from China to "compatriots in Taiwan" which called for reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait by peaceful means.
"If the party could abandon its 'Taiwan independence' stance, we would make a positive response," Hu said.
Noting that any type of relationship is mutual, Tsai said openness and intellectual freedom are the core values of a democratic society.
"It is a violation of democratic principles for someone to ask a political party to forsake its advocacy or stance as a condition to the start of bilateral dialogue or interaction," Tsai said.
The DPP's international affairs department also issued a statement that asked China to understand and respect the democratic principles of refraining from demanding that others back off their stance or advocacy.
The statement also said the thorniest cross-strait problem does not lie in the DPP's stance but rather in the Taiwan people's feelings about China's military threats, its diplomatic suppression and economic clout.
If China continues to ignore the Taiwan people's true feelings, the statement said, the two sides of the strait are unlikely to achieve genuinely harmonious development. (By Sofia Wu) enditem /pc
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
