DPP mulls credo ahead of 2016 bid
Shih Ming-teh's 'Greater One-China' concept seeks to close gap between camps as main opposition casts about for inclusive platform
A former chairman of Taiwan's main opposition Democratic Progressive Party is touting a concept of a "Greater One-China" that he hopes will help the pro-independence party return to power in the 2016 presidential election.
But analysts say the idea is unlikely to provide an answer for the DPP's new chairwoman, Dr Tsai Ing-wen, as she searches for a cross-strait policy that most Taiwanese can support. The party is reviewing its stance after she lost the presidential race to the KMT's Ma Ying-jeou four years ago.
The "Greater One-China" concept was put forward late last month by Shih Ming-teh, a former political prisoner and veteran politician who headed the DPP from 1994 to 1996.
"The idea is to seek political reconciliation between the blue and green camps," Shih said, referring to the mainland-friendly camp led by the KMT and the pro-independence camp led by the DPP.
The concept sets out five principles on cross-strait relations. It calls for the two sides to maintain the status quo and recognise they have evolved from two belligerent governments at the end of the civil war in 1949 into two ruled independently of each other.
It also calls for both sides to support replacing the "one-China" principle with the "Greater-One China" framework.