Taiwan's mainland policy chief dumps party to work with Ma

The chairwoman of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, Lai Shin-yuan, yesterday announced that she would continue to work for the Ma Ying-jeou government and quit the opposition Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU).

'I have chosen to voluntarily leave the TSU in order to devote myself to promoting public affairs,' she said.

The announcement came after the party gave her three days to decide whether she would continue to be a member.

The TSU, which has transformed itself from a pro-independence party to a centre-left organisation, had been unhappy with Ms Lai, saying she should have upheld the party's position that opening Taiwan to the mainland would hurt the island.

The party had asked Ms Lai to use her position as head of the council, which charts the island's mainland policy, to restrain the economic exchange policy of Mr Ma's mainland-friendly Kuomintang.

Ms Lai said since she had taken office in May, she had done all she could to minimise the impact of the liberalisation of cross-strait exchanges. She said she regretted the TSU misunderstood her and had no plans to join any political parties.

Observers said her withdrawal from the TSU would give her a freer hand to deal with the planned visit by the mainland's top negotiator, Chen Yunlin , who is expected in the next few weeks for a second round of talks on shipping, flights and financial co-operation.