‘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”
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]