新　聞　稿             中國國民黨文化傳播委員會           111.8.10

夏立言副主席出席赴陸行前機場聯訪聲明談話參考稿

English Translation of Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia’s Statement at Airport before Departing for Mainland

各位媒體朋友，大家好。我知道大家非常關心國民黨代表團赴大陸的行程，以下幾點公開來和大家報告與說明。

Hello everyone, I know everyone cares a great deal about the itinerary of the Kuomintang (KMT) delegation to the mainland. I will now publically inform everyone and explain five relevant points.

第一、本黨的基本立場與此行目的，是顧民生，護台灣。

無論執政或在野，國民黨都堅持捍衛中華民國、守護民主自由以及維護區域和平，台灣的安全與繁榮更是國民黨努力的目標。無論身處何種位置，我們都關心民眾的切身福祉。

此行主要的目的，是關懷在大陸工作、求學和生活的國人同胞，希望能透過實地參訪以及舉辦座談，深入理解他們在新冠疫情期間於大陸生活及往返兩岸之間所遭遇到的問題、傾聽他們的需求。同時，也會在對等尊嚴、互惠互利的基礎上，向當地涉台機構反映台灣農漁民、中小企業目前所遭遇的困難和心聲。

1) The KMT’s fundamental position and the purpose of this trip are to ensure the people’s livelihood and to protect Taiwan.

Whether the KMT holds office or is out of office, we persistently protect the Republic of China (ROC), safeguard democracy and liberty, and defend regional peace; an even greater goal of the KMT is Taiwan’s security and prosperity. We care about the personal well-being of all our people, wherever they may be.

The primary purpose of this trip is to attend to the ROC citizens who are working, studying, and living on the mainland. We wish to, by means of in-person visits and dialogue, deeply understand the problems they face regarding living on the mainland during the COVID pandemic and problems regarding going back and forth across the Taiwan Strait. By listening to them closely, we can understand their needs. We will also, upon a foundation of equal status and mutual benefit, communicate the current thoughts and challenges encountered by Taiwanese fishermen and small to medium sized businesses to the local Taiwan affairs organization.

第二、在陸台灣人的權益與處境需要被關注

許多在陸台灣民眾希望台灣方面可以了解他們的處境現況，代表團在返台後也會將所見所聞和在陸台人的心聲如實反映給台灣社會和政府單位，希望能有助於相關政策的研擬及國人合法權益之保障、促進兩岸的溝通與交流，在最大程度上減緩近期緊張情勢對兩岸經貿和社會基層造成的負面影響，相信這絕對符合台灣的利益，也應該是不分朝野的共識。

我們看到，當前兩岸關係不斷惡化、與大陸方面的聯繫遭到政治標籤污名化，可是台灣對大陸的貿易依存度卻一直居高不下、去年超過42%，貿易順差更超過1700億美金，社會上各個層面的交流聯繫也依然頻密，兩岸缺乏溝通管道實屬異常。然而，當前的緊張情勢無疑是讓台灣的經貿和民生福祉暴露在風險之中。

  一是台灣產業將承受兩岸經貿交流中斷後的衝擊，

二是所有往返兩岸工作、求學和生活的國人同胞，他們將承擔不必要的壓力和成本，相關權益也愈發缺乏保障。

2) The rights and interests, and situation of Taiwanese living on the Mainland must be attended to

Many Taiwanese people living on the Mainland wish for the Taiwan side to understand their current situation. This delegation will, after returning to Taiwan, also report to Taiwan society and government on what the actual thoughts and feelings on the ground of Taiwanese living on the mainland are. We hope that this can contribute to the planning of relevant policy and the guarantee of our people’s legal rights, and promote cross-Strait communication and interaction. Furthermore, to the greatest extent possible, we hope that we can reduce the recent tense circumstances, which have had a negative effect on cross-Strait trade and basic social contacts. We believe that this reduction of tensions would unequivocally be in Taiwan’s interests, regardless of political affiliation.

We see the current continuous worsening of cross-Strait relations and the political stigmatization of communicating with the mainland side, but Taiwan’s trade dependence on the mainland continues to remain high: surpassing 42% of total trade last year, with a trade surplus surpassing $170 billion USD. All levels of society from both sides also continue to communicate and connect as frequently as before. It truly is abnormal for the two sides of the Strait to lack an official communication channel. However, the current tensions across the Strait undoubtedly place Taiwan’s trade interests and people’s livelihood at risk.

1. Taiwan’s industries will bear the impact of interruption in trade and communication across the Strait.

2. All of our fellow ROC citizens who are going back and forth across the Strait to work, study, and live will take on unnecessary pressure and costs, and their relevant rights and interests cannot be guaranteed.

第三、兩岸累積問題未解，更需要對話交流為民眾解決

近年來，兩岸的溝通交流陸續出現一些問題，例如關於農產品檢驗檢疫、出口貨品標示等爭議。由於疫情阻隔和兩岸關係不佳，既有的官方協商管道中斷、民間交流也大幅減少，過往可行的爭端解決機制更是被長期擱置，這些持續累積的問題已經造成兩岸經貿與基層民生的傷害，也並沒有很好地被反應和解決，如果兩岸持續缺乏溝通管道，必然引起更多誤會與緊張，國民黨基於關切台灣民生權益的立場，願意貢獻自身經驗與力量，協助台灣民眾解決問題。

我們認為，有鑑於兩岸經貿和民間交流對於維繫兩岸和平以及維護台灣安全繁榮至關重要，任何一個負責任的政黨，都不應該任由兩岸關係繼續惡化下去，讓基層人民獨自承受衝擊和惡果，必須透過對話交流，而非對抗交惡，來降低誤判與衝突的風險。

既然目前兩岸官方管道中斷，國民黨不能憂讒畏譏，必須勇敢扛起重擔、為民喉舌，盡到一個在野黨的最大責任，希望以聆聽來反映真實情況、透過溝通對話能化解歧見、用實地調查來設法解決實際問題，為台灣的安全與繁榮發聲，為兩岸及區域和平努力。

3) Accumulated, unsolved cross-Strait problems must be resolved via dialogue and exchange for the sake of the people

For the past few years, some problems have appeared for cross-Strait dialogue and communication, such as controversies over inspection and quarantine of agricultural products and labelling of exported goods. Due to separation from the pandemic and poor cross-Strait relations, existing official discussion channels were cut off. Non-governmental communication also decreased substantially. The dispute resolution mechanisms of the past were also long set aside. The continuous accumulation of problems has already had deleterious effects on cross-Strait trade and the basic livelihoods of the people, and the problems have not been adequately responded to or resolved at all. If the two sides of the Strait continue to lack a channel for communication, even more misunderstandings and tensions will inevitably arise. The KMT, due to deep concern regarding the livelihood, rights, and interests of the Taiwan people, wishes to contribute its own experience and capability to assist the Taiwan people in resolving these problems.

We believe that cross-Strait trade and non-governmental interaction are absolutely crucial for maintaining cross-Strait peace and for safeguarding the security and prosperity of Taiwan. Any responsible political party shouldn’t allow cross-Strait relations to continue worsening and shouldn’t let the people themselves bear the impact and consequences alone. We must utilize dialogue and communication, instead of antagonism and hostility, to reduce the risks of misjudgment and conflict.

Since official cross-Strait channels are currently broken, the KMT cannot worry about slander and fear ridicule. We must bravely take up this heavy burden and speak for the people, fulfilling the greatest responsibility of an opposition party. We hope to listen closely to and respond to the actual situation, employ communication and dialogue to resolve disagreements, and utilize onsite evaluation to think of a way to settle practical problems. We will speak out for Taiwan’s security and prosperity; we will work hard for cross-Strait and regional peace.

第四、行程是早先規劃、我方主動安排、訪台人聚集地 

我要特別和大家報告，此次行程早已於數月前就安排，當時並無法預知會有國際友人訪台、對岸實施軍演等情況。行程都是由黨部方面主動規劃，主要是考量到暑假期間出行，比較有足夠的時間可以配合防疫隔離十天的政策，而所到地區集中在福建、浙江及珠三角、長三角地區，皆是台人在陸工作、生活及求學集中之地，預計於10日出發，21日結束隔離後開始僅有7日的緊湊行程，並於27日返台，只求能協助台灣民眾解決困難，絕無所謂「訪問北京」、「會見大官」之情事。

4) The trip was planned long ago; the KMT initiated the plan; we will visit places where many Taiwan people reside

I must particularly inform everyone that this trip was already planned several months ago. At the time, we could not anticipate a foreign friend’s visit to Taiwan and the subsequent military exercises from the Mainland. This trip was initiated and planned entirely by the KMT. We primarily took into consideration summer vacation for the trip, which allows more time for the policy of ten days pandemic quarantine. The itinerary focuses on the regions of Fujian, Zhejiang and the Pearl River Delta, and the Yangtze River Delta. All of these are places where large concentrations of Taiwanese are working, living, and studying. We plan to leave on August 10th and begin a tight 7 day schedule after completing quarantine on the 21st. We plan to return to Taiwan on the 27th. We only seek to assist the Taiwan people in alleviating difficulties; we will absolutely not take part in so-called matters such as “visiting Beijing” or “meeting high level officials.” 

第五、呼籲政府及社會各界正面看待兩岸溝通對話 

我最後也要特別呼籲政府與社會各界，應該正面看待兩岸溝通對話的效用。首先是陸委會，身為對大陸事務主管部門，應深知必要之溝通管道可以研判事態、降低威脅，即使發生衝突，仍可管控風險、處理危機，而非全面斷線、坐困愁城，我自己當過陸委會主委，我非常清楚。

我們也看到，執政黨同樣有類似的聲音，除了蕭美琴大使在美國受訪提到「兩岸應該溝通」外，蔡英文總統日前才表示「對兩岸建設性對話抱持開放態度」；九大工商團體日前更籲請「兩岸當局應以民生經濟為重、避免衝突」，可見國人與社會各界期盼以民生福祉為重、追求和平的殷切期待。

我也要特別重申，國民黨針對大陸軍演威脅台灣安全，也已多次表達譴責及堅定護台立場，對國軍近日全力維護台灣安全更表達強烈支持，絕無所謂朝野不團結一致問題，更毫無接受統戰分化的可能。況且，此行除了我本人，隨行人員包括大陸事務部主任林祖嘉、副主任鄧岱賢、以及智庫董事高思博等人士，皆是有經貿、法律事務專長的人才，此行是為關心在陸台灣民眾民生福祉、為台灣發聲，不會談及任何政治性議題。

最後，我要特別強調，國民黨相當清楚當前的情勢，也清楚此行可能的風險，但為了捍衛中華民國，為了守護台灣民眾的權益及民生福祉，以及維護區域和平，國民黨不能害怕被貼標籤！否則誰來為台灣民眾發聲？誰來保護台灣的安全？我們一定會突破困難，勇敢向前，為台灣的安全與繁榮而努力，為民眾的福祉與權益打拚！謝謝各位！

5) We call upon the government and all of society to view cross-Strait communication and dialogue as a positive

I’d also like to particularly call upon the government and all of society to view the usefulness of cross-Strait communication and dialogue as a positive. First, the Mainland Affairs Council, as the department responsible for affairs regarding the Mainland, should be fully aware of the need for a communication channel to study the current situation and bring down threat levels. Even if conflict occurs, a communication channel can control risks and resolve crises. We should not cut all communications and thus be surrounded by unresolvable problems. I’ve served as Mainland Affairs Council Minister myself, so I understand this issue clearly.

We’ve also seen the ruling party make similar arguments. In addition to Ambassador Hsiao Bi-khim mentioning that “the two sides of the Strait should communicate” in an interview in the US, President Tsai Ing-wen has also just expressed a few days ago her “maintaining of an open attitude towards constructive cross-Strait dialogue.” Taiwan’s Organization of Nine Major Industries has also implored that “authorities on both sides of the Strait should prioritize the people’s livelihoods and finances and thus refrain from conflict.” Clearly, the people and all of society earnestly hope for the pursuit of peace for the sake of the people’s livelihoods and well-being.

I would also like to particularly reiterate that the KMT has repeatedly denounced the threat against Taiwan’s security by the PLA’s military exercises. We stand firm on the position of protecting Taiwan, and are strongly in support of the ROC Armed Forces’ all-out defense of Taiwan’s security, especially over the past few days. There is absolutely no issue of so-called political affiliation causing disunity, and we further unequivocally reject the possibility of United Front meddling. Furthermore, this trip’s entourage, in addition to myself, include Department of Mainland Affairs Director Lin Chu-chia (林祖嘉), Deputy Director Teng Tai-hsien (鄧岱賢), and National Policy Foundation Board Member Kao Su-po (高思博), and others. We all have trade, economic and legal expertise. This trip is to attend to the livelihoods and well-being of Taiwanese on the Mainland and to promote Taiwan’s interests; we will not discuss any sort of political topics.

Lastly, I must especially emphasize, the KMT understands the current situation very clearly, and also understands clearly the possible risks of this trip. However, for the sake of upholding the Republic of China, for the sake of safeguarding the rights, interests, livelihoods, and well-being of the Taiwan people, and for the sake of defending regional peace, the KMT cannot be scared of being slandered. Otherwise, who will promote the interests of the Taiwan people? Who will protect Taiwan’s security? We will unequivocally break through any difficulty and bravely march forward. We will work hard for Taiwan’s security and prosperity; we will fight for the people’s well-being and interests! Thank you everyone.