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DPP defends 'Taiwan consensus' proposal

ROC Central News Agency

2011/09/15 22:21:01

Taipei, Sept. 15 (CNA) Su Jia-chyuan, the vice presidential candidate of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), said Thursday that the aim of his party's proposed "Taiwan consensus" was to gather the opinions of the people and parties in Taiwan and bring about a positive cross-Taiwan Strait relationship.

President Ma Ying-jeou's campaign manager King Pu-tsung had commented earlier that the "Taiwan consensus" idea suggested by DPP Chairwoman and presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen was "mere rhetoric."

In response to King's comment, DPP Secretary-general Su said that a "Taiwan consensus" would be the "greatest common denominator" in negotiations with China, no matter which party was in office.

In a spirit of openness and transparency, the consensus should be determined by the people of Taiwan through a democratic process, Su said.

Backing the idea, DPP legislator Tsai Huang-lang said it would be more practical and comprehensive compared with the "1992 consensus" because cross-strait relations would remain consistent even if the government changed.

It would be used as the basis for negotiations with China, Legislator Tsai said.

However, ruling Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Chao Li-yun, who serves as secretary general of the party's legislative caucus, argued that that a "Taiwan consensus" may connote a "Taiwan independence consensus."

She said the opposition party appeared to be creating media hype before the election.

Meanwhile, 93-year-old Hau Pei-tsun, who served as the premier from 1990 to 1993, said he was not opposed to a "Taiwan consensus."

However, Hau said, he did not agree with the DPP proposal that that the consensus should be reached through a "democratic process."

He said the amended Constitution of the Republic of China shows the "democratic process" since it was reformed by the National Assembly, which was elected by Taiwan's people. In other words, the amendment of the Constitution is a "Taiwan consensus," he said.

The second National Assembly was elected in December, 1992, and then proceeded to revise the Constitution.

But Hau made it clear that his opinions were his own and did not represent the government or the president's stance on the issue. (By Lu Hsin-hui, Justin Su, Ho Meng-kuei, Amy Huang and Nell Shen) enditem/pc