‘DESTINED TO FAIL’:Lin Chuan was speaking in response to remarks by China’s Taiwan Affairs Office minister. Lin was also questioned over food from northeastern Japan
Taipei Times
Date: Jun 22, 2016
By: Alison Hsiao / Staff Reporter
Premier Lin Chuan (林全) yesterday denied that the new government’s “new southbound policy”
Premier Lin Chuan speaks to reporters at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday prior to attending a question-and-answer session. Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
aims to “bypass China” and reiterated that a good cross-strait relationship would require both sides’ effort and sincerity.
People First Party (PFP) Legislator Chen Yi-chieh (陳怡潔) at a legislative question-and-answer session yesterday asked how Lin views China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Minister Zhang Zhijun’s (張志軍) remarks that the new southbound policy “is destined to fail when [the Democratic Progressive Party government] aims to replace Taiwan’s [investment in China] with it.”
Lin said the new policy is not an attempt to counter China.
“We also look forward to an improved cross-strait relationship and friendly interactions, which are no impediment to our exchanges with other regions,” the premier said.
He denied that the southbound policy is meant to “bypass China,” saying: “You would not stop making other friends just because you already have one,” and reiterated that improving cross-strait relations requires goodwill from both sides of the Strait. [FULL STORY]
