Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng's (
"We are not sure whether Wang's remarks represented the alliance of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party (PFP), as three days ago KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
In an interview with the Chinese-language China Times, Wang, who heads the pan-blue alliance's presidential campaign, said the blue camp has never opposed Chen Shui-bian's definition of relations between China and Taiwan as "one country on each side" of the Taiwan Strait, nor will it stand against Taiwan independence in the future.
Wang said the alliance has changed its cross-strait strategy for the campaign and will stop insisting on the so-called "1992 consensus" and the notion of "one China, with each side making its own interpretation" -- policies that once guided the KMT on relations with China.
Wang said the alliance will shift its strategy to maintain the status quo and pursue cross-strait stability.
Reacting to the pan-blue camp's tilt toward independence, Chen demanded Wang clarify his position.
"Wang didn't deny the `one country on each side' formula, nor did he stress the `one China' notion. He needs to be more specific on the [state of] cross-strait relations," Chen said.
DPP Legislator Lin Cho-shui (
"Wang should clarify how many options he is talking about. Is Taiwan independence the only option, or the last option on the list? If it's the last option he is talking about, his opting for Taiwan independence doesn't make any difference," Lin said.
DPP Deputy Secretary-General Lee Ying-yuan (
"We can't see a consistent rationale for the KMT's [views on] national identity over time and it might create confusion for their supporters," Lee said.
"The party [DPP] will observe whether Wang's remarks were representative of the KMT-PFP alliance," he said.
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