Yunlin County Magistrate Su Chih-fen defended her trip to mainland China, claiming she is promoting her county’s farming products while learning about the agriculture industries of other countries.
“As county head, it is my responsibility to go out and see if a way can be found to expand and modernize Yunlin County’s agricultural sector,” Su said in an telephone interview from the southern mainland Chinese city of Suchou April 27.
On April 19, the Democratic Progressive Party county magistrate led Yunlin County government officials on an agricultural promotion trip to Japan and mainland China. The move came as the DPP intensified its opposition to the Kuomintang government’s proposed cross-strait economic cooperation agreement, which the party claims will decimate Taiwan’s agricultural sector.
Su said she journeyed to mainland China with an open mind. “The mainland, like the U.S. and Japan, is a country famous for its agriculture. I am here to learn how others develop their agricultural sectors and to see if these techniques will benefit Yunlin County.”
Commenting on her role as a DPP party member, the local head said the trip has nothing to do with party ideology.
“If every single thing we do is governed by party ideology, Taiwan will soon lose its competitive edge. In today’s globalized world, there is nothing wrong with visiting the mainland.”
Hsiao Bi-khim, director of DPP’s Department of International Affairs, said Su’s trip is about promoting the county’s agriculture and is not like the KMT-Chinese Communist Party forum, which involves the “unification versus independence” issue. “Since Su is a senior party member, the party completely trusts her,” she said.
DPP spokesman Lin Yu-chang said Su’s mainland China trip is in line with party regulations. “The meaning of such a trip should not be exaggerated and has nothing to do with the ECFA issue.” (CYH-JSM)