Bloody Crackdown in Tibet Should Be a Cause for Sympathy, Not a Tool of Election Campaign

Press Release

Bloody Crackdown in Tibet Should Be a Cause for Sympathy, Not a Tool of Election Campaign

Ma-Siew Campaign Headquarters
March 18, 2008

KMT Ma-Siew Presidential campaign manager Chan Chun-po and spokesperson Tsai Shih-ping on Monday evening visited Tibetan supporters who gathered at the Freedom Square of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial to express support and sympathy on behalf of KMT Presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou.

Faced with reporters, Tsai confirmed that Ma condemned Mainland China’s use of force to suppress protests in Tibet seconds after the news reached the Presidential candidate. “This kind of bloody crackdown should never happen in a civilized country. Mainland China has always wanted to become one of the so-called modern countries in the 21st century through economic reform. Using force to suppress dissent is not helping. The situation in Tibet should be of grave concern to civilized countries including Taiwan. Mr. Ma’s stance on this issue is very clear,” said Tsai.

“The KMT would like to offer its greatest heartfelt sympathy to Tibetan people involved in the bloody crackdown in Tibet.”

Tsai added, “The Tibetan culture and the unique religious way of life of Tibetan people are shared assets of mankind and deserve to be respected. In using force to suppress protests in Tibet, Mainland China has betrayed the peace agreement it has with Tibet.” Tsai appealed to Mainland China to “meet the demand and expectations of the international community in dealing with the Tibet issue if it seriously wants to become a modern country.” “This is a true test for Mainland China to prove whether it has what it takes to be a modern country. Any slip-up would harm its prospects,” said Tsai.

“The DPP keeps distorting the KMT’s blueprint of a cross-Strait common market, and is even spreading rumors that if Mr. Ma is elected President, Taiwan might end up like Tibet. But the truth is, the situation in Taiwan is completely different from that of Tibet. The DPP is wrong to belittle Taiwan. It is really below-the-belt for the DPP or the Hsieh camp to try to exploit the Tibetan people’s uprising to boost its election prospects by drawing a comparison between Taiwan and Tibet. The Tibetan people are defending their cause with their very lives. This is a time for ruling and opposition parties in Taiwan to express sympathy to Tibet, not capitalize on the suffering of Tibet for selfish ends,” said Tsai.

“Mr. Ma and his running mate Mr. Vincent Siew have repeatedly made it clear that any future agreement with Beijing would be based on the premise of mutual economic benefits, i.e., economic and trade reciprocity. Mr. Ma will not give in on this stance. The KMT will not sign any political peace agreement with Mainland China unless the latter removes all of its missiles directed at Taiwan,” said Tsai.

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