Calling the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) visit to China a "trip of surrender," the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus yesterday said although the trip may usher in a "third round" of cooperation between the KMT and Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the visit will achieve nothing for the Taiwanese people.
The DPP was referring to two previous periods of KMT-CCP cooperation in China, in the 1920s and during World War II, when the parties formed a nominal alliance against the Japanese.
The KMT delegation, which left for China yesterday, is headed by KMT Vice Chairman Chiang Pin-kun (
DPP caucus whip Chen Chin-jun (
"Chiang does not have the right to negotiate with the Chinese government about any topic on behalf of the government or the people of Taiwan," he said.
Another DPP caucus whip, Lai Ching-teh (賴清德), said that the trip will achieve nothing for the Taiwanese people, but will actually help alleviate the pressure they put on China through their strong opposition to the "Anti-Secession" Law at Saturday's march.
"I am calling on the KMT delegation not to seek individual or partisan interest at the expense of the welfare of the Taiwanese people," Lai said.
In addition to condemning Chiang's behavior as "ignorant," Lai called Lien "stupid" and Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
Lai was referring to Lien's echoing of Chinese leaders' justifications for enacting the Anti-Secession Law.
Lai said that Ma not only refused the organizer's request to use the square in front of the Presidential Office for Saturday's march, but also undercounted the number of participants.
Lai said that Ma's claim that there were only 275,000 people at the march was an attempt to manipulate the figures reported by the media.
Lai also called on KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
"It's time that all political parties work together for the sake of the national interest and welfare of the Taiwanese people in the face of China's threat," Lai said. He added that the time is ripe for a second meeting between Chen and Soong.
In response, KMT caucus whip Chen Chieh (
"I condemn and protest the DPP's shameless remarks, which I believe result from their jealousy over our ability to do something for the country," he said.
He said the KMT's stance on cross-strait relations was to facilitate peaceful developments between the two sides. He dismissed Lai's call for a meeting between Lien and the president, saying that the timing is not right and that he will not advise Lien to meet with Chen.
The KMT and the Chinese Communist Party first formed a strategic front in January 1924 when the Communists were allowed to join the KMT.
That move broadened the party's ranks from its socially elite core to include blue-collar workers and socialists.
Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek (
The two parties began the second attempt at cooperation in 1937 in the face of the Japanese invasion.
That nominal alliance -- plagued by infighting throughout World War II -- ended in 1945 with the Japanese surrender.
UPDATED FORECAST: The warning covered areas of Pingtung County and Hengchun Peninsula, while a sea warning covering the southern Taiwan Strait was amended The Central Weather Administration (CWA) at 5:30pm yesterday issued a land warning for Typhoon Usagi as the storm approached Taiwan from the south after passing over the Philippines. As of 5pm, Usagi was 420km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost tip, with an average radius of 150km, the CWA said. The land warning covered areas of Pingtung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春), and came with an amended sea warning, updating a warning issued yesterday morning to cover the southern part of the Taiwan Strait. No local governments had announced any class or office closures as of press time last night. The typhoon
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