CNA
DPP Legislator William Lai made the remarks one day after Robert Tsao, honorary chairman of the United Microelectronics Corp., ran a second front-page advertisement in major local newspapers elaborating on his suggestion that the two major presidential candidates -- Frank Hsieh of the DPP and Ma Ying-jeou of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) -- work together to draft a law that would provide a legal basis for maintaining freedom and democracy in Taiwan.
Lai said that Tsao's suggestion is nothing new, but comes "in the same vein" as a law to promote cross-strait peace pushed by the KMT and its partner, the People First Party in the Legislative Yuan. Both are based on the same idea that Taiwan is a part of China and a local government, Lai claimed.
The ad states that the law will resolve the cross-strait issue once and for all, and end ceaseless political wrangling over the independence vs. unification issue.
Tsao also said that the law should contain several salient points, including one ensuring that no referendum will be held on independence because that would be contrary to the nation's claim that it is already an independent and sovereign state.
Also, Tsao said the "independence" he mentions, like the DPP's major "resolution on Taiwan's future" in 1999, refers to "de facto independence"and Taiwan's"status quo" --not the "de jure independence" advocated by President Chen Shui-bian, which he said will cause unnecessary concerns and tensions, noting that under an anti secession law enacted by China in March 2005, it is stipulated that "non-peaceful means" will be used if Taiwan moves toward de jure independence.
Tsao also said that Taiwan must not take the initiative in holding a referendum on unification so as not to polarize the people on the island, but only at the request of China, which will have to explain in detail the substantive measures it would implement to provide a high degree of autonomy to Taiwan, and the rights and obligations of Taiwan people after unification to solicit their support.
Lai's attack came in the wake of President Chen Shui-bian's scathing criticism of Tsao's suggestion.The president has characterized Tsao's proposed law as tantamount to capitulating to China.
Lai said that Tsao has put China's anti-secession law on a pedestal and has not spoken from the perspective of Taiwan.
Tsao's fallacy lies in his acceptance of China's stance that Taiwan is a part of China, and that China could launch an attack on Taiwan unconditionally, Lai claimed.
Lai said further that Tsao's second fallacy is to strip the people of Taiwan of options for their future other than unification.
Tsao's third fallacy lie in his "belief that China will be able to furnish Taiwan with a special system of governance -- that of a highly autonomous region." Lai said.
He asked why Tsao thinks that the 23 million people of Taiwan deserve to be saddled with such an arrangement, instead of being the "great people of a great country."