By Chris Wang / Staff reporter
If China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍) mentions the “one China framework” and says Taiwan’s future should be decided by all Chinese people in his four-day visit to Taiwan, the government should immediately deport him, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus said yesterday.
As Zhang’s visit between tomorrow and Saturday is to mark the first visit of a Chinese official in their official capacity, the DPP and pan-green camp supporters were closely watching his itinerary, potential moves and the political implication of his trip.
In a three-point statement issued by the caucus, the DPP warned Zhang and Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) against engaging in any political talks, called for Wang to publicly reiterate that Taiwan’s future should be decided by its 23 million people and demanded Wang report to the legislature after the visit.
“As Zhang’s visit comes at a sensitive period, when a number of pieces of legislation related to cross-strait affairs are awaiting deliberation in the Legislative Yuan, there are questions regarding the objective of his trip,” DPP caucus director-general Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) told a press conference.
“The DPP cannot help but wonder why the trip has been arranged in the form of an ‘inspection tour’ as Zhang is scheduled to visit various cities and meet with all kinds of people,” Tsai added.
Zhang is scheduled to visit New Taipei City, Greater Kaohsiung and Greater Taichung.
The DPP said it opposed to any form of negotiation or the signing of documents, joint statements or communiques on the issues of “one China,” “one China framework,” “one country, two areas,” a mutual military confidence-building mechanism, a peace agreement or any temporary political arrangement because there has been no consensus among Taiwanese regarding cross-strait political negotiations.
As Taiwan’s top China policymaker, Wang is also obligated to express publicly that Taiwan’s future should be decided by its 23 million people, rather than “all Chinese people,” as TAO spokesperson Fan Liqing (范麗青) said recently, the caucus said.
Since Fan made the remarks and infuriated many Taiwanese, the Presidential Office and the council have only issued weak responses and have never published their official position on the government Web site, DPP Legislator Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said.
Taiwan Solidarity Union caucus whip Lai Cheng-chang (賴振昌) said the party supported the DPP’s s position regarding Zhang’s visit.