DATE=2/17/1999 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=TAIWAN POLITICS (L-ONLY) NUMBER=2-259251 BYLINE=DERRICK MCEHLERON DATELINE=TAIPEI CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Taiwan's Vice President Lien Chan says if he wins the island's upcoming presidential election, he would be willing to enter into official talks with China and ease long-standing trade restrictions. But as we here from Derrick McElheron in Taipei, the ruling party's presidential hopeful says peace will only come to the Taiwan Strait, if Beijing makes a goodwill offer in return. TEXT: The Nationalist Party's presidential candidate, Lien Chan, says he would be willing to visit China and engage in a dialogue with Chinese President Jian Zamin with the hope of improving cross-strait ties. Mr. Lien delivered his long- awaited China policy speech Thursday, in the run- up to the island1s March 18th presidential election, But the Vice President tempered his offer to China by saying it could only be carried out if Beijing ends its hostility towards Taiwan. Vice President Lien says he hopes, in his words, "Chinese can stop fighting Chinese and let the world see a Taiwan Strait without gunfire." But Mr. Lien also reaffirmed Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui's position that China and Taiwan's relations should be defined as a "special state- to-state relationship." That formulation has infuriated Beijing. He added that Taiwan could not accept the "one country-two systems" approach currently being used to facilitate Hong Kong and Macau's return to Chinese sovereignty. He says that would limit the island1s democratic freedom. Vice President Lien adds if relations are to improve, Beijing must stop pressuring the island to accept the "one country-two systems" formula. The Nationalist Party presidential candidate says if talks between the two sides are good natured and productive, Taipei could be willing to discuss the opening of direct postal, business and travel links and the relaxation of trade and investment restrictions. He adds, however, those trade talks must be under the framework of the World Trade Organization, which both China and Taiwan are trying to join. Since the two sides split in 1949, Taiwan has banned direct shipping and air links with the mainland for what are called security reasons. Most of the 20 billion dollars in annual trade between the two flows through Hong Kong. Vice President Lien's speech comes at a time when he desperately needs a political boost. Most polls place the Vice President third in a tight three-way race involving the official opposition candidate, Chen Shui Bien, of the Democratic Progressive Party and maverick independent, James Soong. Analysts say Mr. Lien's long-awaited China policy proposals are not much different from those made by the other two main candidates. NEB/DM/FC 17-Feb-2000 03:36 AM EDT (17-Feb-2000 0836 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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