Kaohsiung City Mayor Frank Hsieh(
The Cabinet issued a press release yesterday saying that the government would review the current rules for government officials to visit China, but before that task is completed, it can only follow existing rules in judging the case.
"This time the city exchange was blocked due to limits of rules and political factors. It's regretful, but I will tolerate it," Hsieh said during a press conference yesterday in Kaohsiung.
However, Hsieh insisted that "city exchanges will still be a future goal" and that he hoped "the case would not influence cross-strait communication and help both sides continue to interact."
Hsieh said he hoped that in the future, trips to China, including those for city councilors, would place cross-strait communication under the supervision of the public and create a transparent model for governments on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
"Talking directly is better than talking indirectly. Understanding is better than misunderstanding. Goodwill is better than war," Hsieh said.
Hsieh also showed related documents to reporters, which included the invitation letter from the Xiamen government, an itinerary for the trip and government documents from Premier Tang Fei (唐飛).
The formal invitation from Xiamen was dated on July 5 -- two days later than when the so-called fax was sent.
Hsieh declined to explain the time gap and the absence of a chop stamp on the correspondence. Hsieh insisted that the formal letter was authentic.
Hsieh's trip to Xiamen would have included a meeting with the governor of Fujian Province, the mayor of Xiamen and various other officials and businessmen.
Hsieh's trip, according to current regulations, needed the Cabinet's permission. The Cabinet reviewed Hsieh's plan over the past two days and twice requested additional information from Hsieh on the grounds that his previous proposal was incomplete.
Chairperson of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Tsai Ing-wen said early yesterday that the government was considering approving Hsieh's plan.
On Thursday, a Chinese official stipulated various conditions -- including defining Taiwanese officials as local Chinese officials and acceptance of the "one China" principle -- before Taiwanese officials can visit China.
Hsieh stressed that the trip was just municipal and cultural interaction without a state-level dialogue.
The Cabinet said that Hsieh's plan was more than just a cultural interchange.
However, before the Cabinet made its final decision, Hsieh withdrew his proposal yesterday afternoon and informed Xiamen officials that he would not be able to visit. Hsieh said he still welcomed Xiamen Mayor Zhu Yayan (
Hsieh announced on Tuesday that the mayor of Xiamen had sent him an informal letter inviting him to visit.
Hsieh accepted the invitation and had planned to travel to China during the period of July 10 to July 13 before taking over as DPP chairman on July 22.
His plans frustrated, Hsieh admitted that the possibility for him to visit China would be even slimmer after he accepts the post as chairman of the DPP later this month.
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