DPP: We oppose any joint communiqués between the SEF and ARATS

With upcoming resumption of talks between the Strait Exchange Foundation (SEF) and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) to be held this Wednesday, June 11th, the DPP wish to make the following statement against the possibility of a joint communiqué from the talks:

1. The topics for negotiations by the SEF should not step outside the bounds of government authority.

The Mainland Affairs Council has authorized the SEF to negotiate with the ARATS on the 3 topics of chartered passenger flights, chartered cargo flights and Chinese tourists coming to Taiwan. The SEF should adhere strictly within the bounds of government authority when engaging in these talks. The responsibilities of the SEF on this trip should be simple, and it should do its best to gain the largest economic and trade benefits for Taiwan during the negotiating process with the ARATS. The SEF should not get involved in sensitive and complicated political issues that would increase disputes between both sides of the strait simply because the ARATS requests the issuing a joint communiqué on the renewed talks.

2. The DPP opposes any form of a joint communiqué on the renewed talks.

The primary goal of a joint communiqué between the SEF and ARATS would be to gain official endorsement of the 1992 Consensus under the “one China” principle and the five-point consensus from the Lien-Hu meeting. It would force the Ma government to subject to the KMT-CCP Platform as the framework for cross-strait negotiations.

This type of “party-led government” harms Taiwan’s interests, since no discussion has taken place within Taiwan, and no internal consensus from the Taiwanese people to agree upon the content of these negotiations. Regardless of whether the SEF and ARATS sign a communiqué, present official meeting records, send out press releases, or presentation of the negotiations in any other methods, the DPP will express firm opposition.

3. The Ma government cannot allow China to exploit Taiwan in its haste to keep campaign promises.

A close look at the cross-strait situation reveals that China uses the Anti-separation Law, the Lien-Hu and Soong-Hu Communiqué to direct its cross-strait strategy and unrelenting pursuit to downplay Taiwan’s sovereignty and suppress Taiwan’s international status. Likewise, the Ma government’s future economic blueprint is based on the premise of injecting new life into cross-strait economic and trade policies. With time constraints and decreasing leverage, the Ma government must use more political bargaining chips on sovereignty in exchange for immediate economic benefits. The DPP would like to remind the Ma government that it cannot allow China to make demands that sacrifice Taiwan’s long-term benefits in its haste to uphold campaign promises.

DPP: We oppose any joint communiqués between the SEF and ARATS