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DECEMBER 2013

DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS

Chair Su issues comment on Mas willing! ness to meet Xi Jinping while ADIZ trou! bles still loom
In an interview with Yazhou Zhoukan (also referred to as Asiaweek Limited), President Ma Ying-jeou mentioned his willingness to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at next years APEC meeting. DPP Chair Su Tseng-chang was asked about his views on this topic by the media on December 26, for which he said that President Ma continues to view Taiwan from the China perspective, and basing his views on his partys own interests instead of seeking benefits for Taiwan. President Mas wholeheartedly focuses on the possible meeting with President Xi Jinping instead of meeting with the people of Taiwan like the farmers of Dapu Village, laid-off workers and industry representatives affected by the impact of Chinese trade, Chair Su said. This is definitely wrong, and it is not only regrettable but also unfortunate for our country. Chair Su questioned whether Ma is really the leader of Taiwan with the kind of statements he makes from his China-inclined point of view, which like the Cross Strait Services Pact, it is

Young artists of Taiwan, compiled by the DPP and showcased at: http://dppart.blogspot.tw/2013/11/tsen"wang "part"4"2010"53"cm"x45.html

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! only for the benefit of China. He further commented that President Mas foreign policy, the diplomatic truce, has not produced any goodwill from China, who continues to squeeze Taiwans international space. There have been no real benefits obtained from China as a result of the diplomatic truce, and thats the reality, said Chair Su. He lastly appealed for President Ma to meet with the Taiwanese people instead of focusing on whether there is a possibility to meet President Xi Jinping. Furthermore, Chinas unilateral drawing of the ADIZ has sparked international censure while President Ma has remained silent on the issue. According to a DPP poll 69.4% of the informants do not agree, and 62.4% support DPPs stance of joining with the U.S., Japan, and South Korea in raising protests to China. DPP Spokesperson Lin Chun-hsien said this survey indicated that as many as 72.2% of the respondents believed China does not have the right to ask other countries to report on their flight plans; 69.4% did not approve of Taiwans Ministry of Transportation submittal of flight plans when crossing Chinas unilateral ADIZ. As many as 64.6% of the respondents believed that the government was too soft on China, while only 23.0% believed the government responded properly. Mr. Lin added that even the new Philippines ambassador to the U.S. mentioned that Taiwan should express its serious concern to China. US Vice President Joseph Biden has also said it is essential for two big countries to have a trusting relationship, which Mr. Lin said it could be interpreted as a call for China to exercise discretion in certain issues and avoid making trouble. Chair Sus Statement on ADIZ Below is a statement released by Chair Su regarding the ADIZ: !

DECEMBER 2013

On November 23 China announced that it unilaterally established an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) with rules demanding that all aircraft flying through this ADIZ notify China; otherwise, China would adopt defense emergency measures. Since Chinas ADIZ overlaps with the ADIZs of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, and China did not consult with other nations prior to the announcement, the affected nations have responded strongly to the Chinese action. U.S., Japan and South Korea consider this action as an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo. Chinese orders for all aircraft flying through its ADIZ are more demanding than those applied by other nations. While other nations require aircraft to submit flight plans only when they anticipate entering that nation's territorial airspace, China demands that all planes file plans whether they will enter China's territorial airspace or are simply transiting through the ADIZ parallel to Chinese territory. Chinas announcement promptly ratchets up tension in the region and heightens the risk of military conflicts, therefore destabilizing regional peace. Under these circumstances, the priority for Taiwan should be to closely coordinate with friendly nations and take concerted actions; this was one of the primary recommendations put forth by DPP during its press conference on November 25 and the Central Standing Committee meeting on the 27th. However, we have witnessed the confused and China-leaning nature of the Ma administrations national security decision making process, which has placed Taiwan under higher strategic risks. Inexplicably, when President Ma first spoke on the issue on December 1st, he asked all related nations to restrain themselves and negotiate with China on the matter as soon as possible. This suggests an implicit acceptance of the Chinese PAGE 2

! stance. It is hard for us to imagine that Taiwan, which shares close relations with the US-Japan collective defense system, has a president who edges the country towards Chinas position at this moment of crisis. I must take this opportunity to call for and demand that: 1. In this ADIZ controversy, we must take account of Taiwans sovereignty and national security and not accept Chinas attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by cutting into Taiwans existing ADIZ and compressing Taiwanese air defense space. We also have to voice our protest, asking that China retract its decision and demanding that the Ma administration publicly take the same position as our partners to request a Chinese withdrawal of its announcement. Concerning the broader strategic framework for Taiwan, we must reaffirm Taiwans strategic cooperative relations with our partners, namely the democratic alliance that I have mentioned previously, 3.

DECEMBER 2013 and not vacillate or let our partners view us as untrustworthy. Chinas Nov. 23 announcement has elevated the tension in the region. I ordered the DPPs legislative caucus to continuously monitor the Ma administrations actions and the Partys Departments of Policy and International Affairs as well as the Defense Policy Advisory Committee to pay close attention to developments regarding this matter, including whether China demarcates an ADIZ in the South China Sea, and to offer timely response.

2.

I also requested that the Departments of Policy and International Affairs as well as the Partys Mission in the US articulate to the international community the DPPs position regarding this issue, which is also that of the majority in Taiwan, and point out that the Ma administrations position only represents a minority opinion within Taiwan.

Young artists of Taiwan, compiled by the DPP and showcased at: http://dppart.blogspot.tw/2013/11/tsen"wang "part"4"2010"53"cm"x45.html

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DECEMBER 2013

DPP Central Standing Committee dis! cusses Taiwans strategy to join TPP nego! tiations
At the Central Standing Committee on December 11, the committee discussed current international affairs in the East Asian region. Mr. Liu Shihchung, director of the Department of International Affairs delivered a report on Japans strategy regarding their participation on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Chinas announcement of the ADIZ. Chair Su commented at the meeting that several variations have contributed to changes in the politics and economics of Asia Pacific, yet President Mas response has been slow, soft and confusing; while the DPP advocates for a more responsible approach in voicing a clear national standpoint from Taiwan. He further emphasized that Taiwans participation in regional security, economics and trade cannot resemble those of the Ma Administration, which is to produce slogans without taking concrete actions. In the future, the DPP must engage internationally through dialogue and channels to show the DPPs new standards for governance, Chair Su said. In my trip to Japan this February, I emphasized a democratic alliance with the U.S., Japan, South Korea and other democratic countries in Asia in order to cope with potential instability in the area and maintain regional peace and prosperity. This is also the DPPs commitment to the international community. Chair Su explained that what he means by the new standards for governance, which will focus on engaging with major countries and dialogue about the future of Taiwan and how Taiwan can participate in the TPP negotiation and prepare for signing FTAs. This kind of research has already been started through the DPPs think tank, he said. When asked by a reporter about his views on the U.S. apparently showing dissatisfaction towards President Mas administration regarding their response after China announced the ADIZ, Chair Su said that the U.S. took an active attitude in requesting China to withdraw the ADIZ while also concretely expressing that they will not be influenced by Chinas unilateral announcement. He appealed the Ma administration to not only protect our sovereignty and national security, but also to stand equally on the side of democratic countries.

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DECEMBER 2013

President Mas year!end report card shows no good results

The latest poll conducted by the DPP shows that the Ma Administration received a grade of 39 when respondents were asked to grade the performance of the government on a scale from zero to 100. Premier Jiang Yi-hua didnt fare so well in the poll either, receiving a grade of 42. Also in the poll were the county governors under the KMT administration, all receiving an average of 57 points. The average received by county governors under the DPP administration was 69 points. DPP Spokesperson Lin Chun-hsien said that survey respondents who didnt give a passing grade to the Ma Administration surpassed 70% and about 21.7% of the respondents gave a failing grade of zero to President Mas performance. Mr. Lin also said that from a gender perspective, male respondents gave zero points and from the 15.2% of female respondents, 13% of them gave President Ma a grade of zero. Mr. Lin said it was also surprising that besides respondents from counties governed by the DPP in the southern areas, Taipei City respondents were also in majority dissatisfied with President Mas performance. In counties and cities that are administered by the DPP, the governors and mayors received over 80% while those administered by the KMT received about 60%, a difference by party of 20% added Mr. Lin. Mr. Lin also said that none of the respondents gave good grades to the performance of this administration on specific topics such as cross strait relations, human rights protection, education, foreign relations, protecting national sovereignty, purging corruption, developing the economy, etc. The survey was conducted on December 10 and 11 with a sampling of 1,304 respondents above the age of twenty and with voting eligibility.

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DECEMBER 2013

DPP plans January 9, 2014 release of China Policy Report

The DPP held its last Huashan Forum on December 26 with concluding discussion on the theme, World Views and Taiwans China Policy. The meeting was hosted by DPP Legislative Caucus Convener Ker Chian-ming, and invited guest speakers were Hsu Wei-Chung, president of the Taiwan Democracy Watch; Professor Chen Mingtong of the Graduate Institute of National Development from National Taiwan University; DPP Legislator Cheng Li-chun, among others. Mr. Honigmann Hong, director of the Department of China Affairs, concluded at the meeting that all the discussions in the past nine meetings will be summarized and submitted to the next China Affairs Committee meeting for approval. The report is planned to be released on January 9, 2014.

DPP Chair urges cooperation among Asian!Pacic democracies in meeting with AIT Chairman Raymond Burghardt
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chair Su Tseng-chang met with Mr. Raymond Burghardt, Chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), on Monday, December 9. Both sides exchanged their in-depth views on various issues, including China's recent unilateral announcement of an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea that triggered regional tensions. Chair Su reiterated once again that Asian-Pacific democracies should work together to diffuse regional tensions. Chair Su mentioned that instabilities still exist in the East China Sea, as seen by tensions that flared up during Burghardts visit to Taiwan in February of this year, and then again more recently after China unilaterally announced its ADIZ. South Korea also announced its newly expanded ADIZ after the US Vice President Joe Biden visited Japan, China and Korea last week. Chair Su noted that after Chinas ADIZ announcement, countries such as the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Australia immediately demanded Beijing to revoke this act that unilaterally altered the status quo in the region. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida also openly urged Taiwan to

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! work with other countries to maintain regional peace. The DPP promptly asked the Ma administration to bring its response in line with the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. Chair Su emphasized that the DPPs position fits into the idea of the Asia-Pacific Democratic Alliance that he proposed during a February visit to Japan, which aims to maintain regional stability and resolution of conflict. On the other hand, the Ma administration has been too slow, too weak, and too ambiguous in response to China's announcement, said Chair Su. It was not until two days ago did President Ma Ying-jeou criticize Beijings action as unhelpful to the development of cross strait relationship, in an interview with Japanese media. Mr. Burghardt reiterated that the United States does not recognize Chinas ADIZ announcement, a point the US Vice President Joe Biden made in his trip to East Asia. The White House and Department of

DECEMBER 2013 State have also clearly expressed the US policy in their statements, said Burghardt. Mr. Burghardt also inquired about the DPPs progress in formulating its China policy. Chair Su replied that DPP is in the process of compiling the conclusions from the four China Affairs Committee meetings as well as many expanded panel discussions attended by representatives of diverse backgrounds, including those from the KMT. Chair Su also said that the DPP invited more than 30 Chinese students to participate in an exchange camp to foster their understanding of the DPP and Taiwans democracy. The group went to the Green Island to visit the Human Rights Culture Park. Mr. Burghardt was pleased to hear about such a development. Chairman Burghardt is currently in Taiwan on one of his regular visits. Mr. Liu Shih-chung, director of the DPPs Department of International Affairs, also attended the hour-long meeting.

DPP Chair Su Tseng!chang meets with Ja! pan Democratic Party MPs
DPP Chair Su Tsengchang stressed the importance of winning the 7-in-1 Elections in 2014 in order to reaffirm that Taiwan is already a sovereign and independent country when meeting a delegation comprised of Diet Members from the Japan Democratic Party on December 12. He was accompanied by Mr. Koh

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! Se-kai, former Taiwan ambassador to Japan and Mr. Liu Shih-chung, director of the Department of International Affairs. The Japan delegation included Former Foreign Affairs Minister Seiji Maehara, Former Senior Vice Minister of Defense Akihisa Nagashima and three current members of the Diet. The Japan Democratic Party lost the elections for the House of Representatives last year and became an opposition party. At this times meeting, they asked Chair Su about the campaign strategy for the next 7-in-1 elections as well as the 2016 presidential election. Chair Su said that according to polls conducted by the DPP, the DPP has stabilized public support and is leading the KMT. He added that the performance by the DPP in its governing six counties and cities has received good afrmation from voters. He expressed that all these results will bring condence for the DPP to enter into the next local elections, but that the DPP will also remain alert. Chair Su explained that on one hand, the DPP has held its primaries ahead of time so that the candidates have more time to prepare for the election campaign, but on the other hand, it must face the vast amount of resources from the KMT. He said that if the DPP can win next years elections, there will be a chance for the DPP to return to power in 2016. Chair Su emphasized that the failed economic policies from the Ma Administration has caused the people to face rising prices in electricity and gas, with the addition of problems in food sanitary protection and lack of governance efciency, corruption by KMT ofcials, bringing about lost of public hope overall. The DPP advocates for good governance, clean elections, revitalization of the economy, all of which have received wide public support, he said. In regards to the Taiwan Strait and cross strait relations, Chair Su reiterated that Taiwan is already an independent and sovereign country, and !

DECEMBER 2013 on how to change the status quo, it should be decided by the 23 million people in Taiwan through the form of a referendum. He pointed out that Taiwan already elect its own president, has its own passports, issues visas and has its own military. He accounted that this kind of national consciousness and national identity is growing wider in Taiwan and it has not received the inuence of President Mas policies. The KMTs emphasis on ultimate unication is more of an inclination to changing the status quo, Chair Su said. If the DPP abandons its standpoint on sovereignty and independent status quo, allowing Taiwan to become a province of China, he noted tha it would be harder to expect regional stability and peace from a world perspective.

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DECEMBER 2013

DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS

PUBLISHED BY: Department of International A#airs Democratic Progressive Party 9F, No. 30, Pei"Ping East Road, Taipei, Taiwan Tel: 886"2"2392"9989 ext. 306 Fax: 886"2"2393"0342 Email: foreign@dpp.org.tw Website: http://www.dpp.org.tw

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