The uproar triggered by the party's department of policy studies director Lee Hsien-jen (李先仁), who proposed adopting a more open and practical attitude toward China has come to an end after the TSU's spiritual leader, former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), showed his outrage toward the idea, while other pro-independence leaders also conveyed their objections.

Lee Hsieh-jen has been forced to resign because of his suggestion, and the voices of support for the idea have also been silenced, including that of TSU Chairman Shu Chin-chiang (蘇進強), who encouraged the proposal when it was initiated on Monday.

Although making certain changes in its political stance is sometimes necessary for a political party's continued existence, there might be limits for the TSU, a party that was founded and is supported by pro-Taiwanese independence diehards and their followers.

"I think the biggest problem of the TSU at present is that the TSU has a bad command of Lee's notions and convictions, and makes wrong political judgments," Chin Heng-wei (金恆煒), editor-in-chief of Contemporary Monthly magazine said.

Chin pointed out that he could understand that some TSU officials are eager to find a new direction for the TSU as there has been a trend signaling that the party's support is languishing in each election. However, it is important for the TSU to remember that every political change has to be made by standing firm on its basic political raison d'etre -- that Taiwan's independence is the cornerstone of the TSU's existence.

"If the TSU goes astray from its original path and breaks its commitment to its supporters, I'm afraid that the change will not only fail to expand its support but also undermine its base," Chin said.

In light of Lee's advanced age of 83, many TSU members are worried about the TSU's future direction and are trying to prepare for the advent of the "post-Lee Teng-hui era." TSU officials often discuss these issues in internal meetings and some of them have even proposed that Lee's daughter, Annie Lee (李安妮), should be named successor as the TSU's leader.

However, Chin noted that whether to change the party's China policy or ready for a post-Lee Teng-hui era are not priorities for the TSU at this point.

"The most urgent thing for the TSU is how to cope with the next legislative election, in 2007, which will adopt a new electoral system that will endanger the TSU's livelihood," Chin said.

World United Formosans for Independence chairman Ng Chiau-tong (黃昭堂), a pro-independence heavyweight, also believes that the TSU's proposal was an "illogical and out-of-focus strategy" for the TSU's growth.

"I think that the TSU doesn't have to be involved in cross-strait issues or diplomatic affairs, since it is the responsibility and province of the Democratic Progressive Party government, which is the real actor that could join in the game of negotiating with the Chinese government," Ng said.

Ng cautioned that what the TSU should do now is to develop grassroots support and cultivate in-depth connections with local people so that it could ensure its existence in future elections.

"If the TSU wants to win more support by changing its basic principles, then it would turn everything upside down. The TSU has to be clear about its political market," Ng added.

Chien Lin Hui-chien (錢林慧君), a former TSU legislator and a newly appointed national policy adviser to the president, also admitted that it would lead to a negative aftermath if the TSU rashly adopted an open policy toward China, saying that the TSU did have some problems in integrating assorted ideas.

But some suggested taking a more open attitude to the whole incident. Shih Cheng-feng (施正鋒), a professor at Tamkang University's department of public administration -- and who is deemed a staunch supporter of Taiwan's independence -- said yesterday that he thought the affair was simply a storm in a teacup that was mischaracterized by the reporting in newspapers.

"I think it is good for a political party to be able to accept new ideas," Shih said. "My take is that the TSU is still groping about in a new direction and wants to have its voice heard in many issues."