The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) Central Standing Committee established a task force yesterday to draft a "Normal Country Resolution" that will address several issues, including sovereignty, education and the economy.
After the committee meeting, DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun said that the resolution will be drawn up by nine party members led by DPP Legislator Chai Trong-rong (蔡同榮).
Some of the other members will be DPP Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), DPP legislative whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), former acting Kaohsiung mayor Yeh Chu-lan (葉菊蘭) and Presidential Office Secretary-General Chiu I-jen (邱義仁), Yu said.
Major figures from civic groups will be invited to consult, he said.
"The `Normal Country Resolution' will address not only the nation's sovereignty but also transitional justice, education, culture and economy," he said.
"We have been in power for eight years. We have to evaluate our prospects and ideals over the past eight years. The `Normal Country Resolution' will give consideration to both DPP's victory in the upcoming presidential and legislative elections and the party's core values," he said.
Yu said the WHO's latest rejection of Taiwan's membership bid highlighted "the need for Taiwan to become a normal country."
When asked if the new resolution would contradict or replace the party's "Resolution on Taiwan's Future" passed in 1999, Yu said it would replace the 1999 version after being passed by the extraordinary National Congress next month.
That congress meeting has been set for June 30
The "Resolution on Taiwan's Future" was written into the party platform to replace the "Taiwan Independence Clause" as part of the DPP's preparations for the 2000 presidential election.
Prior to 1999, the party's stance on national identity was embodied in the 1991 "Taiwan Independence Clause," which set a goal of an independent country named the "Republic of Taiwan."
The 1999 resolution, however, stated that the DPP recognized that Taiwan was already an independent country, named the "Republic of China."
"Every resolution is drafted under a certain historical background. It must exist because of certain space and time ... [Resolutions] are gradually evolving in response to the changes of time and space," he said.
Meanwhile, Lin said that the new resolution would have to be completed one month before the June 30 congress if it were to be voted upon at that meeting. But if that was not sufficient time more could be given because the annual National Congress is expected to be held sometime between July and September.
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