TSAI WELL RECEIVED IN THE US..............

TSAI EXCHANGES
O 

 VIEWS WITH

DIPLOMATS…………………………………2
SEPTEMBER 2008

MR MA A THREAT TO TAIWAN’S
SOVEREIGNTY?.........................................3

DPP PROPOSES NEW MEASURES ON

Democracy &
TAINTED CHINESE DAIRY PRODUCTS………4



A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY THE DPP’S

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Progress
Chairperson Tsai well-received in the US

In an effort to bolster overseas support for the DPP as well as to formally introduce herself to Washington in her capacity
as party chair, Chairperson Ing-wen Tsai recently departed on a two week trip to the United States. Her journey began
when she was met by oversea supporters upon landing in Kennedy Airport in New York on September 2nd. Her busy
schedule immediately commenced with am series of meetings with academics and scholars in New York, exchanging
views on current Sino-American-Taiwanese relations. Also scheduled were talks to the North American Taiwanese
Medical Association in New Jersey, as well as at her alma mater, Cornell University. Chairperson Tsai also made a stop in
Washington DC where she met with policy experts and discuss the importance of Taiwan-American relations. After
spending a week on the east coast, Chairperson Tsai headed to the west coast to meet with DPP supporters at various
fundraisers in Los Angeles and San Jose.

Chairperson Tsai used the opportunity in America to address recent events not only within both the DPP and the broader
Taiwanese political scene. When reporters pointed out the setbacks experienced by the DPP during the recent elections,
the Chairperson portrayed the situation as a growing process for the young party. According to Chairperson Tsai, the goal
of the DPP now is to ensure that the ruling KMT continually holds the best interests of the people of Taiwan at heart.
Chairperson Tsai also stressed in numerous situations during her trip that the DPP is still the party of the people. Her goals
were not limited to just intra-Taiwanese politics, though, as she exclaimed upon entering America that “the prime aim of
this visit is to exchange views with U.S. experts and Taiwanese expatriates on a wide range of issues, including Taiwan’s
political situation.”
2 DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS

Chairperson Tsai exchanges views with foreign dignitaries

DEMOCRACY &
PROGRESS On Friday, September 26th, over 40 foreign dignitaries and diplomats gathered at the
Department of National Taiwan University Hospital International Convention Center to hear a policy
International Affairs briefing sponsored by the DPP’s Department of International Affairs.
Democratic Progressive Party

8F, No. 30, Pei-Ping East Rd. The DPP panel, led by Chairperson Ing-wen Tsai, briefed the diplomats on the current
Taipei, Taiwan direction of the DPP. The Chairperson, who was joined on the panel by fellow DPP
t. 886-2-23929989 ext. 306 members former Minister Fu-mei Chang, former Representative Joseph Wu, Director Lin
f. 886-2-23214527 Chen-wei, and Special Assistant to the Chairperson Bi-khim Hsiao began the conference
e-mail: foreign@dpp.org.tw by providing a concise history of the DPP as the torchbearers of “the flame of
web: http://www.dpp.org.tw democracy” within Taiwan. She then transitioned into an overview of the current state of
affairs of the party, as she outlined several difficulties experienced by the party in the last
few years. She emphasized, though, that the DPP would take advantage of this
Director: opportunity as the major opposition party to reflect on its weaknesses in order to convert
Lin Chen-wei them into assets. She then discussed several issues which comprise the focal points of
DPP policy. Some of these included ensuring the sovereign integrity of the nation as well
Deputy Director: as maintaining the competitiveness of Taiwan within the global economy.
Huang Chih-ta
Chairperson Tsai then gave the floor to Dr. Joseph Wu, former Representative to the
Editor-In-Chief: United States, who addressed the current perception of the Ma administration’s
Roger Lee Huang achievements. Wu seized the opportunity to berate the KMT for not only devoting too
much attention to China at the expense of neglecting our friends in the region, but also for
Editor: making far too many concessions to China. Even though the Ma administration has
Mike Fonte congratulated themselves repeatedly for the thawing of relations between the two nations,
no real tangible benefits have emerged. For example, China once again blocked Taiwan’s
Staff Writer: attempt to participate in the United Nations (UN), even though the bid was for
Britt Mercadante ‘meaningful participation’ and not for membership in the UN. Wu concluded his
statements by reiterating that uniting Taiwan was more important now than improving
relations with China, a theme which appeared consistently throughout the briefing.

The panel wrapped up the briefing by opening up the floor to questions. Many took
advantage of this opportunity, as all five DPP representatives were utilized to help clarify
the current DPP policy. They succeeded, through their responses to questions ranging
from the significance of the August 30th rally to the opinions of the Taiwanese oversea
communities, in illustrating the frustration many Taiwanese feel for the Ma
administration as well as clarifying the goal of the DPP to be a party for the people.
3 DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS

“Mr. Ma:” A Threat to Taiwan’s Sovereignty?

President Ma Ying-jeou’s actions and statements with regard to cross-strait relations have raised concerns that he is
putting Taiwan’s sovereignty in jeopardy. His policies had led some to believe that he is attempting to move back
Taiwan’s status into a 1970s version of relations between the Republic of China on Taiwan and the People’s Republic of
China.

For example Ma in an August interview with a Mexican paper, Ma described the relationship across the Strait as a
“special” one, but not a state-to-state relationship and as part of his revisionist policy, referred to Taiwan as a “region” of
the ROC. Ma has also moved from a focus on Taiwan and Taiwanese identity during the presidential campaign to a
focus on the concept of people on both sides of the Strait being chung-hwa min-zu [Chinese race]– an archaic concept
that flies in the face of Taiwan’s immigrant island history with its multi-cultural dimensions.

This movement away from the concept of ROC on Taiwan as a sovereign, independent nation whose future is be
decided only by the 23 million people of Taiwan – which Ma articulated during the campaign and parallels the DPP’s
1999 resolution on the future of Taiwan – to subsuming Taiwan into some larger whole as simply a region downgrades
Taiwan’s sovereignty and is a grave danger to Taiwan’s future.

There have been a host of other signs of Ma’s downgrading of Taiwan’s sovereignty. In an attempt to appease the PRC,
President Ma said he would have no problem if Chen Yunlin, the head of China's Association for Relations across the
Taiwan Strait, addressed him as Mr. Ma instead of President Ma in future conversations. Reports surfaced that the
successful development of medium range ballistic missiles in the Hsiung Feng 2E program were suspended allegedly by
the intervention of President Ma in an attempt to appease the PRC and to create the illusion of warming ties between the
two sides.

During the Olympic Games, President Ma also offered several concessions to China despite China’s unwillingness to
reciprocate any sign of genuine goodwill. First the Chinese used every opportunity in its state controlled media to refer
to Taiwan as ‘chung-guo Taipei’ (Taipei, China) instead of the long agreed to ‘chung-hwa Taipei’ (Chinese Taipei).
Furthermore China insisted Taiwan march at the opening ceremony under the simplified Chinese character ‘chung’ (中)
for Chinese, instead of the IOC agreement to march under “TPE” for Taipei. Then there were the many references made
by Chinese officials that Taiwanese athletes would enjoy a 'home' advantage in Beijing. This was not met by any protest
by high level KMT officials attending the Games, and in fact this sentiment was echoed by KMT Chairman Wo
Poh-hsiung.

Whether being willing to redefine cross-strait relations as not “state-to-state” or accepting a pair of pandas as a
“domestic transferal” instead of signing the documents between two sovereign states demanded by the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Ma’s actions have led many Taiwanese to question his intentions
and commitments to a sovereign Taiwan.
4 DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS

DPP Proposes New Measures to Deal with Chinese Milk Scandal

As the Chinese Milk Scandal reaches its second week of existence, the DPP has issued several proposals to help make
amends for those who have suffered in this crisis as well as reduce the chances of a similar one occurring in the future.

The DPP first urged the KMT government to secure a public apology and compensation from China to not only the
victims of melamine-poisoning but also to the companies who have endured severe financial losses as well as a decline
in reputation during this scandal. If China fails to take responsibility for its corrupt actions, then the KMT should forbid
ARATS chief Chen Yunlin, scheduled to visit Taiwan sometime during the next month, from entering into the county.

The DPP further proposed that amendments should be added to two separate food safety laws, the Act Governing Food
Sanitation and the Commodity Labeling Law, to help protect the health of the Taiwanese people. DPP members
specifically called for further transparency within the export business by demanding that a product’s place of origin be
placed in clear view for the consumer to see.

Questions or comments? Feel free to

email them to foreign@dpp.org.tw or

dppforeign@gmail.com

Democracy & Progress is a monthly electronic newsletter published by the Democratic Progressive Party’s Department of International
Affairs. Please note that articles in this publication should not be used as direct quotation unless with the explicit permission from the
editor.