Taichung DPP City Councilors Protest Hsia's China Visit 夏立言訪中掀波瀾 中市綠議員強烈抗議

KMT's Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia left with a delegation for a trip to China drawing fire for visiting at a time when Beijing has been conducting intensive military drills to pressure Taiwan. Since he's a member of the Taichung International Affairs Commission, the DPP is asking the city government to make a statement regarding this issue.

DPP city councilors from Taichung City lined up and chanted slogans, asking Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen to declare her position. Andrew Hsia, the KMT's vice chairperson visiting China, is also hired by the Taichung City Government to be a member of its International Affairs Commission. DPP councilors questioned whether Lu knew about Hsia's China visit beforehand and asked him to pass messages to China.

Chiang Chao-kuo, DPP Caucus Whip, Taichung City Council: “Did Mayor Lu know beforehand? Mayor Lu, did you ask Hsia to communicate with China on your behalf? Can you only say "thank you" when questioned by the outside world about this China visit?”

Lu inspected the market this morning, when asked about this issue, she emphasized that Hsia's appointment was based on his vast, international experience as former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Lu said Hsia's visit to China during the current Chinese military exercises is at an inopportune time and only added trouble.

Lu Shiow-yen, Taichung City Mayor: “We think a KMT delegation visiting China at this time of Chinese military exercises meant to threaten Taiwan is not right and only adds trouble.”

DPP city council candidates protested in front of KMT's Taichung headquarters. Chang Shih-ming, Taichung's KMT Party Secretary, expressed respect for young people voicing their opinions, but he regarded this as an election strategy.

Lin I-wei, Taichung City councilor candidate (DPP): “KMT's Taichung City councilors also expressed different opinions yesterday. Maybe he needs other external assistance so we brought this peace charm for him today.”

Chang Shih-ming, Chief Secretary, KMT Taichung Headquarters: “We know this is just raising their profile as we get closer to the election. We don't feel unhappy about it. But I hope the election is just a political move. So it doesn't matter.”

Hsia's China visit is causing waves in Taichung's political arena because he serves as a member of the Taichung International Affairs Commission.


 

台中市議會民進黨團議員一字排開高呼口號，要求台中市長盧秀燕出面表態，因為出訪中國的國民黨副主席夏立言，也是台中市府聘任的國際事務委員會委員，他們質疑盧秀燕事前是否知情，並藉出訪名義向中國傳話。

台中市議會民進黨團總召江肇國質疑：「盧市長事前知情嗎？盧市長妳是否有拜託夏立言跟中國傳話，討論什麼樣的事情嗎？妳面對外界不斷地質疑這一次的出訪，妳難道只有一句謝謝嗎？」

盧秀燕今日上午視察市場時強調，聘任夏立言是借重他曾任外交部次長有豐富國際經驗，但目前正值中國演習期間，夏立言率團出訪時機不宜，徒增困擾。

盧秀燕表示：「正值飛彈中共演習威脅台灣的時候，我們認為這時候率團出訪，時機不宜，徒增困擾。」

台中市國民黨部，今日上午則有民進黨議員參選人帶著內鬼退散的符咒前來抗議。國民黨中市黨部書記長張士明表示，尊重年輕人表達意見，視為是選舉前增加聲量的手段。

民進黨台中市議員參選人林義偉表示：「國民黨在昨天也有他們台中市議員有不一樣意見表達，我想可能他的道行還不太夠，需要其它更多的外力來做協助，今天特別送上這個內鬼退散的平安符。」

對此，張士明說：「也知道快要投票了，所以增加一些聲量，我們也沒有什麼任何的不愉快，但是我總希望，選舉它只是一個政治動作，沒有關係。」

夏立言訪中，因為擔任台中國際事務委員會委員，在台中政壇掀起波瀾，話題不斷。