《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》DPP is open to dialogue with Beijing: Chen Chu

/ Reuters, KAOHSIUNG

Taiwan’s independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party （DPP）, likely to sweep to power in Jan. 16 elections, is open to engaging with neighboring giant China, but more trust needs to be built on both sides, a senior party member said yesterday.

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Taiwan votes in a new president and parliament next month, when the ruling Chinese Nationalist Party （KMT） is expected to be soundly beaten by the DPP, supported by young voters angered by a perceived economic dependence on China.

The DPP is detested by the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing, because the party believes the future of Taiwan is for its 23 million people to decide, which Beijing takes to mean independence.

“We feel the trust in the relationship between the DPP and the Beijing government is very thin, very weak,” Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu （陳菊） told reporters in an interview. “I think through more goodwill and more exchanges we can slowly build the trust between the two sides.”

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province to be taken by force if necessary, particularly if it makes moves toward independence.

Chen, 65, is a DPP grand dame who was once jailed for fighting for democracy during the Martial Law era under the KMT. She is also presidential campaign chief for DPP Chairperson and presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen （蔡英文）.

Tsai, 59, likely to be the nation’s first female president, has not elaborated on what her China policy would be, apart from saying her goal is to maintain a sustainable and consistent relationship.

Observers say her double-digit lead in opinion polls against rivals means she can wait until she wins to say more without the risk of upsetting voters.

“We should have a different start,” Chen said. “She [Tsai] is a leader who is willing to create more goodwill between the two sides, for the sake of Taiwan.”

Chen Shui-bian （陳水扁）, the first, and so far only, DPP president, infuriated Beijing during his administration from 2000 to 2008.

China accused Chen Shui-bian of trying to push for independence and weaken Taiwan’s Chinese cultural heritage, even though he tried to maintain stable relations. Limits on trade and transport links were slowly relaxed under his rule.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES