DPP says it rejects 'black-box' Ma-Xi meeting

Taipei, Nov. 4 (CNA) The opposition Democratic Progressive Party's legislative caucus said Wednesday it will not accept a "black-box" meeting between President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), which it said evades legislative oversight.

In a press conference that day, DPP Legislator and caucus whip Chen Ting-fei (陳亭妃) said Ma had in 2012 laid out the preconditions for a Ma-Xi meeting, including "national need, public support and legislative oversight."

But none of those preconditions have been met, she said, adding that the DPP firmly rejects the Ma-Xi meeting scheduled for Saturday.

DPP Legislator Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟), who serves as the director of the DPP's China affairs department, said Ma should be clear on whether he has made any concessions on cross-Taiwan Strait relations.

Yeh Yi-jin (葉宜津), another DPP lawmaker, stressed that the future of cross-strait relations should be decided by the Taiwanese people.

DPP Legislator Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁), meanwhile, said Ma should explain to the public whether his meeting with Xi would touch on the subjects of a Taiwan-China peace agreement, South China Sea issues and the "one China" framework.

Taiwan Solidarity Union caucus whip Lai Chen-chang (賴振昌) also said Wednesday that his party will not endorse Ma's behavior and will take the most drastic measures to boycott the meeting.

Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), a former chairman of the DPP, also weighed in on the controversial Ma-Xi meeting, saying Wednesday in a post on his Facebook page that the scheduled meeting is "lacking in necessity" and "extremely inappropriate," given Ma's low poll ratings and the fact that a new president is about to be elected.

He said a Taiwanese leader, when meeting with a Chinese leader, should insist on the sovereignty of Taiwan and on an open and transparent democratic process.

"We solemnly demand that President Ma give a comprehensive report immediately at the Legislative Yuan. A meeting between the leaders on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will only be meaningful if it has been approved by the Legislature and is carried out with the people's trust and under legislative oversight," Su wrote.

Senior government officials said Tuesday that Ma will make a visit to Singapore Saturday, where he will meet with Xi.

The officials said the two leaders will exchange views on consolidating cross-strait peace and maintaining the status quo, but no agreement will be signed and no joint statement will be issued.

(By Chen Chun-hua and Christie Chen) ENDITEM/ke