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NO TIMETABLE ON CROSS-STRAIT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: KMT CHAIRMAN

2003-12-16 16:51:58

    Taipei, Dec. 16 (CNA) The opposition "pan-blue alliance" has no timetable on any changes in the political landscape across the Taiwan Strait or the development of cross-strait relations, Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan said Tuesday.

    Speaking at a news conference for the media from home and abroad, Lien said the "pan-blue alliance, " comprised of the opposition KMT and the People First Party (PFP) , has always maintained that upholding the status quo is the best policy on cross-Taiwan Strait relations.

    Lien, the 2004 presidential candidate of the "pan-blue alliance," said his camp does not support either "extreme unification" of the two sides of the Strait or any rash announcement of Taiwan independence.

    The "pan-blue alliance, " however, is resolute in supporting cross-strait dialogue in the hope that the two sides will begin negotiations as early as possible on direct air and shipping links, arms control and other relevant issues, Lien said.

    He also said he hoped that the two sides of the Strait will continue to increase business and trade exchanges, while minimizing military threats. Lien said that the "pan-blue alliance" agrees that Beijing should dismantle the missiles targeting Taiwan and has appealed to the leadership across the Strait in this regard several times. Lien said that he does not think it is necessary for Taiwan people to voice their opposition to mainland China's missile deployment in a referendum vote as has been called for by President Chen Shui-bian. "If the result of a referendum is what everybody already knows, the referendum is simply unnecessary," Lien stressed.

    On Taipei-Washington relations, Lien said that all decision-makers in the " pan-blue alliance" believe that U.S.-Taiwan relations are the most important among all of Taiwan's foreign relations.

    Lien said if he and his running mate, PFP Chairman James Soong, are elected president and vice president in the March 20, 2004 election, the "pan-blue alliance" will be a government that treasures Taiwan-U.S. relations and will not make any rash moves or flip-flop policy that would undermine the deep relationship that exists.

    However, Lien said that as a presidential candidate, he would rather not waste time and energy talking about cross-strait relations, which is an issue that is impossible to solve in the short term. It is also unfair to ask the people to make decisions on the highly thorny political issue in referendums, he added. On the contrary, he said issues pertaining to people's livelihood and welfare, such as unemployment, the domestic economy and social order, are much more important issues for the "pan-blue alliance" to tackle.

    Meanwhile, Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng, who is also campaign manager for the "pan-blue alliance, " said at the news conference that the cross-strait sovereignty issue is not something for people in Taiwan to solve here and now.

    Since the issue should be left for posterity to solve, Wang said that maintaining the status quo of cross-strait relations is the safest and most practical policy.

(By Deborah Kuo)

ENDITEM