Taiwan Today

The Democratic Progressive Party’s Central Review Committee expelled two party members July 27 for attending the Cross-Strait Forum in China. The move came after repeated attacks by former Minister of Agriculture Fan Chen-tzung and former Legislator Hsu Jung-shu on the party over its decision to hand them three-year suspensions July 23. “The committee’s first resolution was made in light of Fan and Hsu’s visit to China, while the second one targeted their actions contravening the first verdict,” CRC Chairman Chen Chin-de said. Prior to the committee meeting, Fan announced his withdrawal from the DPP and stated that he would not join another political party. “The DPP should not overlook the fact that China is rising,” he said. Fan also urged the party to be lenient with Hsu, who is now in Hong Kong. Asked whether the committee’s decision would be enforceable in light of Fan’s walk-out, Chen said the resolution was made based on the party members’ wrongdoing and those under investigation would not be able to leave the DPP. “Fan’s decision has no bearing on the committee’s ruling,” he said. Separately, Chen suggested that the DPP’s China policy should be first formulated in the Central Executive Committee before being finalized during the national congress. “Such a policy should not be decided by certain people within the DPP,” he said, adding that his proposal will be reviewed during the next CRC meeting. According to a person familiar with the situation, the DPP’s China policy has not yet been included on the agenda for discussion during the party’s Sept. 19 national congress. DPP spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang said the party’s Cross-Strait Forum position is very clear: “DPP members and officials serving in the government are banned from attending the event.” But the issue of how to handle Beijing’s united-front tactics needs to be discussed further, he added. (CHY-JSM)