Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Yu Shyi-kun blasted the opposition leader for pandering to China at the expense of Taiwan's security.
Yu made the remarks at a press conference which was held immediately after KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou's (
At the press conference, Yu criticized Ma as "smug" and lashed out at him, saying he "should not kowtow to China internationally, yet swell like a rooster domestically."
PHOTO: WANG MIN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES
"Ma burnishes his personal image by sacrificing Taiwan's interests," Yu said.
`Five nots'
He said Ma's visit can be summed up with "five nots":
First, Ma should not say "one China" means "the Republic of China (ROC)," since international society does not acknowledge such an argument.
"If one China means ROC, is there a People's Republic of China in the world?" Yu said.
Second, Ma should not try to divide Taiwan with his political rhetoric.
"Ma asked China to differentiate who is the major enemy and the minor enemy, which attempts to turn Taiwan's internal conflict into an international conflict between Taiwan and China," Yu said. "Ma has to know that the political competition between the DPP and the KMT is a democratic dispute, not a conflict between two countries."
Third, Ma should not spread the lie of the "1992 consensus."
"Former president Lee Teng-hui (
Fourth, Ma should not propose that the KMT will apply to be an opposition party in China if Beijing lifts its ban on organizing political parties.
"A political party can be loyal to only one country. And if the KMT enrolls as one of China's political parties, to which country will the KMT be loyal?" Yu said.
Fifth, Ma did not protest the more than 800 missiles that China has deployed targeting Taiwan, nor voice Taiwan's resolve to defend itself.
"Ma will mislead the international community into thinking that Taiwan does not care about China's missiles, which hurt's our interests," Yu said.
"It is ironic that Ma reveals that he can tolerate Beijing's autocracy but cannot tolerate Taiwan's democracy," Yu added.
TSU criticism
Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) caucus whip David Huang (
Huang said that Ma's suggestion about establishing a military mutual confidence mechanism was impossible, given the imbalance of military capabilities and China's "Anti-Secession" Law stipulating that Beijing can use "non-peaceful means" against Taiwan.
As for Ma's modus vivendi proposal, Huang cited Sha Zukang (沙祖康), the Chinese ambassador to the UN office in Geneva, who said that the proposal would not be acceptable to the Chinese government.
"Sha said before that the `one country, two systems' model is the most peaceful arrangement. I wonder if Ma accepts this," Huang said.
Huang added, "Ma said that the modus vivendi proposal will be based on the `one China' principle as fulfilled by the definition of the `Republic of China.' However, will China take this definition to replace the `People's Republic of China?'"
In terms of the nation's future, Ma said not long ago that "Taiwan independence" is one of the options available, Huang said.
"If Ma is sincere about this, why did Ma describe the `Republic of Taiwan' as China's `principle enemy,' in comparison to its secondary enemy the `Republic of China?'"
"In this regard, does Ma mean that people who support independence as an option for Taiwan's future are also his enemy?" Huang said.
Meanwhile, Yu also urged the KMT to hold talks with the DPP and propose a version of a military procurement bill before it held an economic forum with the Chinese Communist Party.
"In order to prevent Taiwan from being degraded by China, we hope the KMT can work out some consensus with the DPP before it goes to China," Yu said. "We hope it will be a form of conversation. But if they want to debate with us, we accept it."
also see story:
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck off Tainan at 11:47am today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The hypocenter was 32.3km northeast of Tainan City Hall at a depth of 7.3km, CWA data showed. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Tainan and Chiayi County on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. The quake had an intensity of 3 in Chiayi City and County, and Yunlin County, while it was measured as 2 in Kaohsiung, Nantou County, Changhua County, Taitung County and offshore Penghu County, the data showed. There were no immediate reports of
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
RESPONSE: The government would investigate incidents of Taiwanese entertainers in China promoting CCP propaganda online in contravention of the law, the source said Taiwanese entertainers living in China who are found to have contravened cross-strait regulations or collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be subject to fines, a source said on Sunday. Several Taiwanese entertainers have posted on the social media platform Sina Weibo saying that Taiwan “must be returned” to China, and sharing news articles from Chinese state media. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has asked the Ministry of Culture to investigate whether the entertainers had contravened any laws, and asked for them to be questioned upon their return to Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said. To curb repeated
RSS