June 29, 2013
No. 45
In regards to the statement made by Frank Hsieh saying that cross-strait exchanges should not be equivalent to Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Communist Party of China (CPC) exchanges, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) responded today (June 29) that the government regards positively every political party exchanges across the Strait that promotes benign interactions and increases mutual understanding. The MAC stated that exchanges between political parties are part of private exchanges and it is normal in democratic societies, and there is no question of monopoly on this issue. However, the MAC stresses that every matter involving public authority must still be dealt with through institutionalized government channels.
The MAC pointed out that party-to-party exchanges between the KMT and CPC began in 2005 have played a definite role in promoting deeper cross-strait exchanges and pragmatic dialogue; recommendations made by the governing party on related policies are regarded as mere policy references. The ruling party “assists” the government, but does not “lead” the government. The MAC states that, political parties’ engagement in cross-strait exchanges and every advice offered on cross-strait relations would be welcomed by the government.
The MAC reiterated that, over the past five years, the government has always upheld the principle of "putting Taiwan first for the benefit of the people" in promoting its Mainland policy. All 19 agreements signed between the Straits Exchange Foundation and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits have been concluded through official-to-official channels, resolving problems arising from cross-strait exchanges. The exchange platform has pragmatically realized the "mutual non-denial of authority to govern" situation across the Taiwan Strait, and is the only channel for the two sides to deal with affairs involving public authority.
The MAC expressed that the recent exchange activities and pragmatic discussions between the Democratic Progressive Party and CPC would be beneficial to enhancing mutual understanding and also to the government’s promotion of its Mainland policy; as such, they are welcomed by the government.