On the fourth anniversary of the enactment of China's "Anti-Secession" Law, the Presidential Office yesterday urged Beijing to handle the piece of legislation "appropriately," saying it was "unnecessary" and "unfeasible."
"We think the mainland authorities should carefully consider the feelings of Taiwanese and handle their piece of legislation appropriately," Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琪) said.
Wang did not elaborate on what he meant by "appropriately," but said Taipei believed the "mainland authorities have the wisdom to know how to handle it appropriately."
Wang said President Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) position on the "Anti-Secession" Law has been consistent since it was enacted four years ago.
"He has insisted on protecting the sovereignty of the Republic of China and maintaining Taiwan's dignity," Wang said. "He has always believed the 'Anti-Secession' Law is unnecessary and unfeasible."
Wang said the legislation was unnecessary because the majority of Taiwanese were in favor of maintaining the "status quo" in the Taiwan Strait and are against Taiwanese independence.
The cross-strait situation has also experienced a substantial shift since Ma took office in May, Wang said. Over the past nine months, Wang said, cross-strait tensions have diminished and both sides have gradually enhanced mutual trust based on the so-called "1992 consensus."
Cross-strait talks have won universal recognition and brought a glimpse of hope of peace and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait, he said.
The ※Anti-Secession§ Law is unfeasible because peaceful development of cross-strait relations must be achieved through the goodwill of both sides, Wang said. The process must be bilateral, equal and peaceful, he said, adding that it should not be unilaterally decided by Beijing.
Meanwhile, the Mainland Affairs Council yesterday called on Beijing to abolish the ※Anti-Secession§ Law and remove the missiles targeted at Taiwan.
The council said in a statement that Beijing passed the law without showing much consideration for the feelings of Taiwanese and the apprehensions of the international community.
The article, which sanctions non-peaceful means to annex Taiwan, is unacceptable to Taiwanese, it said, and does not conform to Beijing＊s rhetoric of peaceful development.
As it is the responsibility of both sides to improve cross-strait relations, the council urged Beijing to abolish the statute, which it described as "incompatible with present needs." It also expressed the hope to see Beijing dismantle missiles aimed at Taiwan.
Only when peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Asia-Pacific region are restored can both sides create a win-win situation, it said, adding that Beijing must deal with the new cross-strait reality with a more positive attitude. The council also urged both sides to refrain from denying each other's existence and work toward creating a new era of prosperity.
At a separate setting yesterday, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Lee Chun-yee (李俊毅) criticized the Presidential Office's statement as "superficial and weak in tone."
"[The Presidential Office's statement] was intended for domestic consumption. China will not take [those words] seriously," he said.
Lee said Ma should have made it clear in his statement that Taiwanese find it unacceptable for China to target missiles at Taiwan and threaten them with the ※Anti-Secession§ Law.
Under the DPP government, March 14 was declared "Anti-Aggression Day" as a gesture of stern protest, DPP Legislator Gao Jhy-peng (高志鵬) said, adding that the Ma administration's statement appeared to be nothing more than a formality.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY RICH CHANG
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