By Chris Wang / Staff reporter
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday announced its long-awaited list of China Affairs Committee members, five months after the establishment of the committee that aims to serve as a platform to formulate the party’s cross-strait policies.
The eight members are DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), who serves as the convener, former DPP chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), former premier Yu Shyi-kun, DPP legislative caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), Greater Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊), Greater Tainan Mayor William Lai (賴清德), former National Security Council secretary-general Chiu I-jen (邱義仁) and former DPP secretary-general Wu Nai-jen (吳乃仁).
“Hopefully, the committee will be a platform that includes a variety of views and helps form a consensus [on cross-strait affairs],” Su told a press conference after the list was approved by the party’s Central Standing Committee yesterday afternoon.
Su denied reports that the party had not been keen on the committee, saying that 17 preparatory meetings had been held in the past five months, with the first committee meeting scheduled for Thursday next week.
The most notable omission from the list was former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), who declined an invitation to join the committee following the heavy criticism his “moderate” cross-strait policies have received.
The DPP tried to bring Hsieh on board, but the former premier, who became the first senior DPP politician to visit China last year, appears to have decided to walk his own path.
The selection of Wu Nai-jen caused controversy, as he is facing a prison term of three years and 10 months for breach of trust in a case involving a property transaction and he could begin serving his term shortly.
“He is still a free man as far as I’m concerned,” Su said in response to a report’s inquiry.
DPP spokesperson Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) said Wu’s status would be determined depending on developments in his case.