Chen Kuan-ting: National Defense Special Act to Han Kuo-yu for Consultation, Hopes to Accelerate Progress

Regarding the follow-up consultation on the draft National Defense Special Act, Chen Kuan-ting, convener of the Legislative Yuan's Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, stated in a media interview today that he had consulted with many mid-generation and new-generation KMT legislators a few days ago, hoping they would not be afraid of the pressure from KMT Legislative Yuan caucus whip Fu Kun-chi or KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen, and would bravely participate in this crucial caucus consultation for the country. Chen Kuan-ting said that it was regrettable that KMT legislators did not attend the caucus consultation yesterday, and since there was no outcome, he had originally planned to convene another caucus consultation next week. However, it now appears that the KMT in the Legislative Yuan's Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee might obstruct it by scheduling inspections. Moreover, after the DPP Legislative Yuan caucus held a caucus meeting today, it was decided to hand it over to the Legislative Yuan, meaning to Han Kuo-yu, to convene a caucus consultation to accelerate the process. Chen Kuan-ting pointed out that for the caucus consultation to be convened by Han Kuo-yu in the future, he urged KMT legislators to do their homework and not to insist on passing their version without discussion or conclusion, as this would be a step backward for the country. In addition, DPP Legislative Yuan caucus whip Tsai Chi-chang was interviewed in the Legislative Yuan today and was asked about his views on Cheng Li-wen still visiting China while China conducted live-fire drills yesterday, and KMT legislators not attending the caucus consultation on the draft National Defense Special Act yesterday. Tsai Chi-chang stated that the DPP caucus hopes to accelerate the review of the draft National Defense Special Act, but given the KMT legislators' unwillingness to attend the caucus consultation, they asked Han Kuo-yu to conduct a cross-party consultation at the Legislative Yuan level. Tsai Chi-chang pointed out that Cheng Li-wen said this trip was a journey of peace, but the trip has not yet ended, and China's military exercises have not only not stopped but have intensified military actions in the Taiwan Strait. What kind of peace is this? Tsai Chi-chang said it was regrettable that within the KMT, including Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen or KMT legislators, there were views or versions proposed for the draft National Defense Special Act, which was a good start and should have led to consultation. It is a pity that everything stalled just because Cheng Li-wen was going to meet CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping. Where does the KMT place Taiwan's security and the people's future? Regarding Cheng Li-wen's meeting with Xi Jinping today, Tsai Chi-chang pointed out that the DPP caucus emphasized that acknowledging the existence of the Republic of China is an unavoidable issue. The Republic of China exists, and all citizens of the Republic of China hope to live a life of freedom, democracy, and rule of law under the framework of the Republic of China. Tsai Chi-chang said he wanted to remind Cheng Li-wen not to forget the Republic of China that the KMT mentions in every election. If she clearly expresses to Xi Jinping that Taiwan needs peace and cross-strait exchanges are possible, she should ask the other side to acknowledge the existence of the Republic of China and express the hopes, expectations, and demands of the Taiwanese people and citizens of the Republic of China to live a life of democracy, freedom, and rule of law. This is the bottom line.