What a Path Would Chen Shui-bian Take?

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, July 24, 2002

What a Path Would Chen Shui-bian Take?

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What a road would Chen Shui-bian take? Does he practice Taiwan independence or do something else? Recently Chen has professed that Taiwan "will follow its own road", which has triggered off doubts and attacks from the island's public opinion.

On July 21, Chen took over the post as chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and delivered a speech. When talking about cross-Strait relations, he said: "Taiwan will follow its own road, our Taiwan road, and create a future for Taiwan".

KMT chairman Lien Chan said that Chen's remark is ambiguous, does he want to go in for Taiwan independence or do something else? Acting concurrently as DPP chairman, Chen holds real power in his hands, and he should have the courage to speak out his mind, so that the public can decide whether they should follow him. Besides, Chen called the mainland as "China", then what Taiwan should be called? Such hesitating and bashful remarks, Lien pointed out, may adversely affect cross-Straits relations.

Commenting on Chen's "Taiwan path", chairman of Taiwan's People First Party James Soong said Chen Shui-bian has been "swaying all the way", the crux of the matter lies in his separation ideology.

KMT spokesman Wu Tsing-ki said Chen's remark is not clear in meaning, which may cause doubts among various social circles about whether or not it represents the direction heading for "Taiwan independence as set in DPP's program". Wu stressed that. KMT hopes Chen Shui-bian would be far-sighted, promote and establish normal cross-Straits relations featuring mutual benefit and mutual prosperity, and realize "three links" and "direct air and shipping services" at an early date, Wu stressed. that there should not be only a slogan for "working with might and main for the economy", and that after taking over the post as chairman of DPP, Chen should not go all out for politics any more.

Public opinion pointed out that Chen's "Taiwan path" revealed the dilemma caused by "Taiwan independence as set in DPP's program" and the DPP cannot blaze a "Taiwan path" without completely removing the burden of this "program".

By PD Online Staff Member Li Heng

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