Lien Chan Visits Beijing—Cross-Strait Issues Raise Concerns

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• published: 19 Feb 2014
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Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/cnforbiddennews Like us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/chinaforbiddennews Lien Chan, Taiwan Kuomintang (KMT) Honorary Chairman is visiting Beijing from Feb. 17 to Feb. 20. With an official meeting having recently been held between Taiwan and China, cross-Strait contacts have been frequent. What is the key to solving issues across the Taiwan Strait? Should Taiwan rely on China for economic development? What's the opinion of the Taiwanese people? The following is our report. Taiwan's KMT Honorary Chairman Lien Chan arrived in Beijing on Feb. 17. The delegation of official and business representatives from Taiwan met Xi Jinping on the afternoon of Feb. 18. This is Lien Chan's fourteenth visit to China since 2005. Prior to this, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi had visited Shanghai on Feb. 13. It was his second meeting with Zhang Zhijun, Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council. The purpose was to discuss a potential meeting between Ma Ying-jeou and Xi Jinping, which has caused great concern across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) executive committee Hong Chih-kun believes Lien Chan's visit to Beijing is in essence the second stage of meetings following the meeting of Wang and Zhang. Hong Chih-kun, DPP Executive Committee: "Negotiations have taken place between Taiwan and China on economic and political issues. Such a secret meeting is questionable to Taiwan. The older generation of politicians have no right to decide the political future of people across the Strait. It is not fair to either side." China's media reported Lien Chan believes it will be best to solve cross-Strait issues during his tenure as opposed to leaving them to the next generation. Exactly how does Taiwan view the cross-Strait issues? Hong Chih-kun: "We hope to conduct political negotiations on the basis of freedom, democracy, and human rights. People in Taiwan will not accept totalitarianism that continues to abuse human rights and even imprisons lawyers for defending Falun Gong." The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) established the dictatorship regime in China in 1949, whereas the Republic of China gradually built democracy in Taiwan. Mutual cross-Strait closures and military hostilities have lasted for more than 30 years. Only recently have visit, trade and tourism been allowed. While both sides share the same roots, origin, race and culture, the 60 years of cross-Strait issues is due to the vastly different political systems. Taiwan human rights lawyer Chiu Huang-chuan believes democratic Taiwan will not trust the CCP to serve as representative of all Chinese regarding cross-Strait issues. Universal values are key. Chiu Huang-chuan, Taiwan human rights lawyer: "I believe the keys are democracy and human rights. The future of Taiwan is in the hands of every Taiwanese person via the mechanism of democracy. As for the future cross-Strait relationship, the wishes of the Chinese people ought be to respected as well, rather than just a few people in the CCP." China offered policy concessions to attract Taiwanese businessmen to build factories and run trade in China. However, after a brief honeymoon period, Taiwanese businessmen have been exposed to collusion, extortion, embezzelment of the CCP regime, which has led to bankruptcy or even death for many Taiwanese businessmen. The Taiwanese people question whether it is really necessary to rely on China for economy and accept the CCP united front politically at the cost of democracy and freedom. Hong Chih-kun: "Taiwan is a free trade port, conducting business with more than just China. The industrial development on both sides has transformed from a relationship of division to one of fierce competition. When factories retreat from China, Taiwan should diversify towards a multi-national market for higher security." Chiu Huang-chuan believes cross-Strait trading is beneficial only to a small number of entrepreneurs and corporations. However, the interests of businesses should not outweigh the benefits to the public or overshadow universal values. Chiu Huang-chuan: "Economic development has its own rules, and reliance on one particular entity is not one of them. The rules, not the benefits, decide the length and the health of development. Taiwan's freedom, democracy, and human rights cannot be exchanged with the benefits." The CCP has long been intimidating Taiwan with the use of force. In the mean time, the CCP has also conducted its united front tactics on all walks of life in Taiwan, such as the veteran Whampoa Military Academy, and political, business and media circles. The CCP pulls out all the stops for any chance to control Taiwan. 《神韵》2014世界巡演新亮点 http://www.ShenYunPerformingArts.org/