News of the Week (Oct. 11-17, 2007)

News of the Week
(Oct. 11-17, 2007)

1.President Chen Shui-bian said in a National Day message that “Taiwan’s economic performance is better than that of South Korea.” On Oct 11, KMT Presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou rebutted President Chen’s remarks by saying, “The fact is that South Korea has never taken Taiwan as its main competitor.” Ma questioned Chen, “When the ranking of the Kaohsiung Port continues to slide, does our competitiveness increase or decline?”

2.KMT Presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou announced his plan for the country’s economic development during a speech at the Investor Conference 2007 hosted by Citigroup Global Markets Inc., in which he said, “Once elected, I will focus on three goals: raising annual economic growth rate to 6%, raising per capita GDP to US$ 20,000 by 2011, and lowering the unemployment rate to 3% by 2012.”

3.After two weeks in retreat, DPP Presidential candidate Frank Hsieh finally showed up in public. In a news conference held on Oct.12, Hsieh asked DPP Presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou to debate with him on the issue of “Joining the UN under the Name Taiwan”. However, Ma responded by saying “Stupid, it’s the economy.” Ma stressed, “If Hsieh wants to have a debate, then let’s have a debate on bread-and-butter questions.”

4.On Oct 15, the China Times ran a special report on “The Birth of a New Impoverished Class”, in which it pointed out, “Because of Taiwan’s long-term economic slowdown, 1,380,000 middle-class people have been downgraded to the ‘new impoverished class’.”

5.During a political report in the Chinese Communist Party’s 17th National Congress, Chinese Communist Secretary-General Hu Jintao said, “As long as any political party in Taiwan admits the fact that both sides of the Strait belong to one China, we are willing to have dialogues or negotiate on any issues.” Hu also called for all political parties in Taiwan, based on the “One China Principle”, to formally end hostilities, reach a peace agreement, and construct a framework for peaceful development for both sides, so as to create a new stage in cross-Strait relations.

6.KMT Presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou said on Oct. 16 that both sides across the Strait should go back to the principle of “1992 Consensus”, i.e. “One China, different interpretations, ” which can serve as a basis for negotiations.

Ma said, “On our side, One China means the Republic of China.” In response to Hu’s call for a cross-Strait peace agreement, Ma said, “I cannot say that it’s not progress. However, it is only a peace agreement. The future of Taiwan should be decided by Taiwan people and should not be interfered with by the People’s Republic of China.”

7. On Oct 15, KMT Secretary-General Wu Poh-hsiung said in a press release that he welcomed Hu’s call for a peace agreement. Wu stressed, “The KMT will continue to push for peaceful cross-Strait exchanges and negotiations, and the establishment of a mechanism that is conducive to the stability and peace across the Strait.” He added that, “People on both sides look forward to a reduction in tensions and hostilities, and expect peaceful development across the Strait, and leaders on both sides have to understand that it is the vox populi.”

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