Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday announced the establishment of a China Affairs Committee, ending media speculation about the makeup of the committee by doubling as the committee’s convener.
Former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), whose landmark visit to China last month made him the front-runner to lead the committee, expressed his support.
Su made the announcement, regarded as the DPP’s first step to formulate its new China policy and start anew its relations with Beijing after losing the January presidential election, at a press conference after the party’s weekly Central Standing Committee meeting.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
After “extended deliberations,” Su said he gave up the original plan of having Hsieh as committee head and decided to assume responsibility himself because “it is the chairman’s responsibility to integrate different opinions in the party.”
The DPP’s views on Taiwan’s status and future remain unchanged because its party resolution on Taiwan’s future in 1999 has now become mainstream opinion among Taiwanese, Su said.
The comment was regarded as an attempt to reassure supporters that the party would not tilt toward Beijing in its attempts to prove to the public that it is capable of managing cross-strait relations.
However, because Chinese influence has been everywhere in Taiwan, the DPP has to respond with flexible strategies and approaches, and present a China policy that will “serve Taiwan’s interests in the future,” Su said.
Explaining the committee structure in detail, DPP Secretary-General Lin Hsi-yao (林錫耀) said it would consist of seven to nine members and include an advisory board, with a meeting being held every two months.
The other members of the committee are expected to be finalized in one to three weeks, he said, adding that Hsieh and former DPP chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) had already been invited to join the committee.
Hsieh’s initiative of “constitutions with different interpretations” (憲法各表) meant he would not be an ideal candidate to convene the committee, because the former premier’s views on China policy are clear and would not help him as convener of the committee’s discussions, Lin said.
While the name of the committee has been a hot topic in the media, Lin said it was never an issue in the meeting as the party stuck with “China” rather than “cross-strait” or “mainland” as some had suggested.
Lin also played down the significance of the committee being headed by a convener rather than a chairman, saying that it was a “non-issue” in the meeting.
Before the meeting, representatives of various pro-independence groups, including the Taiwan Society, the Taiwan Hakka Society, the Northern Taiwan Society, the Taiwan Nation Alliance and the Taiwan Association of University Professors, met with Su and voiced their concerns.
Taiwan Society president Wu Shu-min (吳樹民) told reporters after the meeting that the groups argued that the establishment of a committee on China policy was not a priority for the DPP at present.
Instead, Wu said, the DPP should focus on domestic economic issues, and promote social justice and fairness, such as seeking a solution to the financial crises of various pension programs.
Former premier Yu Shyi-kun shared those views, saying that the DPP would be able to promote closer engagement with China without setting up a committee.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old