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Chen Shui-bian under fire over remarks
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-02-08 07:27
In recent days, main Taiwan parties, media and both renowned and common
people have strongly criticized Chen Shui-bian for his remarks of abolishing the
"National Unification Council" (NUC).
Chen Shui-bian proposed on Jan. 29 in his Lunar New Year speech the
termination of the NUC and the "National Unification Guidelines" and "the
application for United Nations membership under the name of Taiwan."
Ma Ying-jeo, chairman of the Kuomintang Party, said on Jan. 29 Chen Shui-bian
has declared twice before that he will not abolish the "NUC".
On May. 20, 2000, Chen promised not to declare Taiwan independence,
incorporate the "two states" idea into its constitution, change the so-called
country's name or to hold a referendum on Taiwan independence, and not to
abolish the "NUC" and the "National Unification Guidelines."
If Chen Shui-bian breaks his promise, his credibility will be in doubt, Ma
said. "A price will be paid for dishonest actions."
People First Party Chairman James Soong on Feb. 3 said Chen Shui-bian's
remarks show he will pursue its "Taiwan independence" guidelines in the
following two years of his term.
Chen's remarks proved that he tried to salvage his power in the Democratic
Progressive Party at the cost of provoking tension between the two sides across
the Taiwan Straits, according to Soong.
Chen is hoping to transfer the focus of the common people, aiming to mask his
image of corruption and failure in governing, Soong added.
The Taiwan-based "Central Daily", published on Feb. 3 predicted Chen's
remarks will have two possible results: one is that Chen's remarks will not be
paid attention to and the other is that his remarks will force Taiwan into a
blind alley.
The editorial of the United Daily News on Jan. 30 said it is quite sure that
Chen Shui-bian has no credibility.
On the same day, a senior journalist of the China Times said inhis new
analysis that Chen has embarked on an explicitly antagonistic road.
A lawyer surnamed Xu, who once acted as the policy consultant to Chen
Shui-bian, said that if Chen Shui-bian breaks his promise of not abolishing the
"NUC", he will endanger the cross-Straits relations and arouse concern from the
Taiwan parties and the international community.
The "NUC" was established in 1990 by the Taiwan authority headed by Lee
Teng-hui and fourteen meetings were held after its establishment. No "NUC"
meeting has been held since Chen Shui-bian headed the Taiwan authority. The
"National Unification Guidelines"were issued in 1991, saying both the Chinese
mainland and Taiwan are under the sovereignty of China and promoting the state's
reunification should be the common task of all Chinese. The guidelines also
outlined a three-phase goal for the realization of China's
reunification.
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