Where Is the DPP Cross-Strait Express Headed?

Where Is the DPP Cross-Strait Express Headed?
China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
June 10, 2014

Summary: We welcome anything that is conducive to cross-Strait relations, to "peace, stability and development," We welcome anything that will facilitate the beginning of a new era. We are however worried about the KMT's ability to respond. Lai Ching-teh visited Shanghai. The KMT mocked him and criticized him for changing his political stance. But suppose Lai Ching-teh has in fact changed his political stance? Isn't that something the KMT should applaud? A new era in cross-Strait relations has begun. People will also be listening to what the KMT says and watching what the KMT does. Only that can prevent the KMT from falling behind the times.

Full Text Below:

The relationship between the red, blue, and green parties on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is changing. The changes may well be critical in nature and herald a breakthrough. The Mainland is more confident than ever about cross-Strait relations. Tsai Ing-wen is now chairperson. The DPP now has a new view of cross-Strait relations and a new manner of response.

First of all, Tsai Ing-wen has expressed a new attitude toward a "Tsai Zhang Meeting." State Council for Taiwan Affairs Office Director Zhang Zhijun may visit Taiwan. When Tsai Ing-wen met with DPP China Affairs Committee members, she said "As long as there are no preconditions, I can meet with Zhang Zhijun at DPP Party Headquarters." According to media reports, Tsai Ing-wen specially convened members of the China Affairs Committee, right after the DPP Central Standing Committee meeting. Former Premier Frank Hsieh, Yu Shyi-kun, Ker Chien-ming, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu, and Tainan Mayor Lai Ching-teh attended. They discussed the future of the committee. Chen Chu, Lai Ching-teh, and Ker Chien-ming used phrases such as "If Zhang Zhijun visits Taiwan" and "If Zhang Zhijun invites me," and discussed how the DPP should to respond. Ker Chien-ming made it clear that, "We must change our attitude of blanket opposition." It was precisely during this exchange that Tsai Ing-wen offered her above mentioned response.

When ARATS chairman Chen Yunlin visited Taiwan, the DPP behaved outrageously. They beseiged him for the entire duration of his visit. By contrast, the DPP is cautiously welcoming Taiwan Affairs Office Director Zhang Zhijun's visit, as a gesture of goodwill. The DPP has indeed made a major about-face on cross-Strait issues. The DPP's Mainland policy express train has turned around. But we still cannot see where it is heading or how fast it is traveling. But at least it is departing from the right place.

Soon after Tsai Ing-wen made her remarks, Lai Ching-teh visited Shanghai as part of a city to city cultural exchange. In Shanghai, Lai Ching-teh refused to comment on a number of sensitive topics. But his overal demeanor was frank, positive, and friendly. When questioned about Lai Ching-teh's visit to Shanghai, Tsai Ing-wen stressed that "The two sides should enhance mutual understanding through frank exchanges and dialogue. Both sides should seek common ground based on past history. They should seek peace, stability, and development." Her words suggest that the DPP is responding positively and aggressively to mainstream hopes for "cross-Strait peaceful development." The DPP has repeatedly stressed the importance of stable cross-Strait relations. Tsai Ing-wen's remarks, Lai Ching-teh's visit to Shanghai, and the DPP's response were not improvized. Nor were they verbal gaffes. Rather they respresent the DPP leadership's new cross-Strait policy. They were preplanned. They represented the more pragmatic policy orientation of many younger generation DPP leaders.

Political parties and politicians are often sized up by "listening to what they say and watching what they do." Tsai Ing-wen, Lai Ching-teh, and the DPP are doing something new. Naturally this requires "listening to what they say and watching what they do." In fact, so-called "listening to what they say and watching what they do" is not limited to the DPP. On a deeper level it requires listening to what the DPP says and watching what the DPP does about cross-Strait policy. The question must be examined on at least two levels.

Take what the DPP says. The DPP has started using "the Chinese side," and "the other side," to refer to Mainland China. This represents progress and goodwill. Tsai and the DPP talk about "cross-Strait peace, stability and development." That too is a sign of goodwill. It is even a sign of policy change. To date however, what the DPP says has been confined to the level of appearances. The DPP has made a few friendly gestures. They were certainly worth encouraging. But more importantly they involve substance and content. That is precisely how the DPP must change its cross-Strait rhetoric. That is precisely what requires close observation.

Now take what the DPP does. Tsai Ing-wen said she welcomes a "Tsai Zhang Meeting." Lai Ching-teh took part in city to city exchanges. These are important changes in behavior. But these to are confined to the level of exchanges. Further observation of what the DPP does is required. How will the DPP deal with critically important bills relating to cross-Strait relations? Will the DPP cling to its scorched earth policy? To delaying tactics? Is it willing to engage in earnest democratic oversight? Is it willing to play an active role as the loyal opposition? Is it willing to review bills in order to make them better? Many on Taiwan are watching closely. So are many on the Mainland.

So far, the Mainland has cautiously welcomed the DPP's changes. The Hong Kong based China Review noted that Tsai Ing-wen's "intentions toward the Mainland are sincere." It noted that she "has demonstrated forcefulness in cross-Strait relations." It said that Tsai Ing-wen is "rational, and aware that cross-Strait relations are the most important factor in whether the Democratic Progressive Party can return to power." It said the DPP "has already behaved in a friendly manner," and that the "Mainland must appreciate this and respond in kind. "

If the DPP is increasingly sincere in both its words and deeds, the DPP/CCP freeze can be thawed, bit by bit. DPP/CCP exchanges can be promoted, step by step, A new era in cross-Strait relations can begin. For the red, blue, and green parties, this constitutes a new era, rich with challenges and opportunities.

We welcome anything that is conducive to cross-Strait relations, to "peace, stability and development," We welcome anything that will facilitate the beginning of a new era. We are however worried about the KMT's ability to respond. Lai Ching-teh visited Shanghai. The KMT mocked him and criticized him for changing his political stance. But suppose Lai Ching-teh has in fact changed his political stance? Isn't that something the KMT should applaud? A new era in cross-Strait relations has begun. People will also be listening to what the KMT says and watching what the KMT does. Only that can prevent the KMT from falling behind the times.

社論－民進黨兩岸列車轉向何方？
2014年06月10日 04:10
本報訊

兩岸三黨紅藍綠的關係，正在發生變化，甚至有可能是關鍵性的變化，變化的突破口，在大陸對兩岸關係的自信，及蔡英文出任主席後，民進黨對兩岸關係的新說法與新作為。

首 先，最引人注目的是蔡英文關於「蔡張會」的新表態。在和民進黨「中國事務委員會」委員們會面時，蔡英文表示，如果國台辦主任張志軍能來台訪問，「只要不設 前提，我也可以和張志軍在民進黨中央會面。」根據媒體的報導，蔡英文是在民進黨中常會後，特別召集中國事務委員會成員，包括前行政院長謝長廷、游錫堃，以 及柯建銘、高雄市長陳菊、台南市長賴清德，針對該會的未來走向進行談話會。陳菊、賴清德和柯建銘在會中都提到「假如張志軍來台回訪」、「假如張志軍約 我」，民進黨到底該如何因應，柯建銘甚至明確表示：「我們逢中必反的態度有必要轉變了」。正是在這樣的互動之中，蔡英文做出了上述的回應。

從悍然包圍遠道來訪的海協會會長陳雲林，到釋出善意、謹慎歡迎國台辦主任張志軍來訪交流，民進黨確實在兩岸問題上轉了一個大彎，但我們還看不清楚民進黨大陸政策的列車在轉彎之後，將要開往何方，又會以怎樣的速度前行，但是起點肯定是對的。

在 蔡英文的談話之後，賴清德出訪上海，這是城市交流也是文化交流，在上海，賴清德被動回應了一些比較敏感的話題，總的來說，態度是坦率、健康而友善的。蔡英 文在面對媒體詢問賴清德訪滬一事時，還強調兩岸「雙方應該要透過坦誠的交流與對話，增進了解，在各自過去發展的歷史基礎上，進一步求同存異，為兩岸的和 平、穩定與發展創造契機」。從這短短的幾句話中，我們可以窺見，民進黨是在正面、積極的回應「兩岸和平發展」這樣的主流理念，也特別多次強調了兩岸關係 「穩定」的重要性。蔡英文的談話，賴清德的訪滬，民進黨的回應，都不是即興之作，不是擦槍走火，而是民進黨新黨中央政策性的、規畫性的作為，也多少代表民 進黨青壯世代或者說務實派的政策取向。

人們常說，對於政黨或政治人物要「聽其言，觀其行」。對於蔡英文、賴清德和民進黨的新變化、新作 為，自然也是要「聽其言，觀其行」。其實，所謂的「聽其言，觀其行」，不僅僅是觀察民進黨的後續作為而已，深入地來說，關於民進黨兩岸政策的「言」與 「行」，都至少有兩個層次的課題需要探究。

在「言」的部分，我們看到民進黨開始改用「中方」、「對岸」來稱呼中國大陸方面，這當然是一個 進展，也是善意，蔡英文和民進黨談「兩岸的和平、穩定與發展」當然也是另外一個善意的訊號，甚至是政策取向改弦更張的流露。然而，到目前為止，這樣的 「言」，多半還停留在「形式」的層面上，民進黨擺出友善的姿態，固然值得鼓勵期待，更關鍵、更重要的還在於「實質」的「內涵」層面，也就是民進黨的兩岸論 述究竟會有怎樣的調整，這才是真正需要認真觀察的重點。

在「行」的部分，亦然。蔡英文歡迎「蔡張會」，賴清德進行城市交流，這都是重要的 變化，但同樣也停留在「交流」的這種形式的層面上。更需要觀察的「行」，是民進黨會怎樣面對許多關鍵性、重要性的兩岸關係相關議案，在這樣一些兩岸關係相 關議案上，民進黨是否仍繼續採取焦土抗戰、拖延戰術，還是願意進行誠懇的民主監督，積極的發揮「建設性反對黨」的角色，從「促使其完善」的角度進行審查， 不但台灣社會相當關注，相信大陸方面也在密切觀察。

到目前為止，大陸方面對民進黨的新變化是審慎歡迎的。香港中國評論網的快訊指出：蔡英 文「對大陸是有善意的」，「在兩岸關係方面是有魄力的」，蔡英文還「是理智的，深知兩岸關係能否把握對民進黨能否執政是最為重要的因素」。評論認為民進黨 「友善的動作已經做出來了」，而「大陸必須充分理解，也加以善意的互動」。

看來，只要民進黨的「言」與「行」能夠更為正面積極、更為一致，民共的僵局會一點一點的打開，民共的交流會一步一步的進行，兩岸關係的局面就會因此進入一個全新的階段，對紅藍綠三黨來說，一個充滿挑戰與機會的新階段。

只 要有利於兩岸關係的「和平、穩定與發展」，我們樂見、也會促進這個新階段的到來。然而，我們卻也開始憂心於國民黨的回應能力。面對賴清德的訪滬，國民黨採 取了譏嘲批評的方式指責賴清德政治立場的變化，然而，如果賴清德真正有了變化，難道是國民黨所不樂見的嗎？面對兩岸關係新階段的到來，國民黨同樣該認真在 「言」與「行」上下功夫，才不會一再落在形勢發展之後。