"One hundred years ago, the trend of the times facing the Chinese Revolutionary League (Tung Meng Hui of China) was irresistible, the trend of reunification confronting us today one hundred years thereafter is, likewise, irresistible, because the anti-secession trend has taken shape."

New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming made the above remark at the symposium on commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of Tung Meng Hui of China, held in Fuzhou, Fujian Province on the morning of September 6.

Yok Mu-ming said that in the times of the Tung Meng Mui of China, because of the weak national strength, members of Tung Meng Hui wanted to revitalize China and usher in a new era. Today, what we are faced with is no longer aggression and annexation by foreign enemies, but is the ambition harbored by a small number of people for national secession. In those years, young members of Tung Meng Hui finished writing the history with their lives and bloods and tears, we, people of the present generation, should complete reunification with lives, but not with bloods and tears, the two sides of the Straits should head for peace.

Yok Mu-ming indicated that the separate mainland visits earlier paid by the Taiwan-based Kuomintang (KMT) Party, People First Party (PFP) and New Party reveal that the tendency of Taiwan's public opinion is crystal clear: everybody is expecting peace across the Straits, reciprocity and mutual benefit in the field of economy and trade. The policies on allowing the entry of Taiwan's farm products into the mainland, equal treatment to Taiwanese students, etc. published one after another by the mainland released the goodwill of winning the hearts of Taiwanese people with benevolence, this will have positive influence on the future development of cross-Strait relations.

At present, the Taiwan authorities refuse to promote the "three direct links" (of trade, mail and air and shipping services), and their practice of denying the educational backgrounds of students in the mainland -- these are stupid moves, because even though they have formulated these restrictive measures, mainland-Taiwan non-governmental exchanges are being carried out as usual, the exchange of needed agricultural produce is still being carried on, refusing to promote "three direct links" only creates inconveniences and the denial of the educational backgrounds of students in the mainland is only a self-deceptive act -- just like plugging their ears while stealing a bell, because the mainland students' educational backgrounds are acknowledged by other parts of the world. The mainland and Taiwan are of the same race using the same Chinese language, even if people talk about economy by putting aside politics, no one wishes to give up the vast market of the Chinese mainland.

"Reunification has not been accomplished, compatriots are still required to exert themselves". Yok Mu-ming also indicated that a very important point in the New Party's founding declaration is to follow Dr. Sun Yat-sen's idea about administration of the country. In terms of the present stage, there are mainly three major tasks: that is to integrate the pan-blue strengths in the Taiwan region, to create a peaceful situation for the two sides of the Straits and unite with the Chinese around the world. "In the past, Dr. Sun Yat-sen called for uniting with all nationalities in the world that treated China as equals; today, we also have the responsibility to unite with all Chinese around the world who take pride in the Chinese nation, we should get united in different regions for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

The symposium marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of Tung Meng Hui of China was jointly held by the Taiwan Compatriots Work Committee of the Fujian Provincial People's Congress, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Fujian Provincial Government, the Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese Compatriots Committee under the Fujian Provincial People's Political Consultative Conference, the Fujian Provincial Committee of Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang, the Fujian Provincial Committee of Taiwan Democratic Self-government League and the Fujian Provincial Federation of Taiwan Compatriots. Nearly 300 people including experts and scholars from the United States, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Fujian Province as well as descendants of Tung Meng Hui members attended the opening ceremony.

By People's Daily Online