DATE=3/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=TAIWAN / CHINA DEMOCRACY REACT (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260355
BYLINE=STEPHANIE MANN
DATELINE=BEIJING
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: China's outlawed Democracy Party has welcomed
the results of Taiwan's presidential election, saying
it shows the way for democratic reform on the
mainland. V-O-A correspondent Stephanie Mann has more
from Beijing.
TEXT: China's banned Democracy Party congratulated
Taiwan's president-elect Chen Shui-bian on his victory
and said the process of democratization in the China-
Taiwan region cannot be turned back.
The party's statement says Saturday's election in
Taiwan was the second time in five thousand years of
Chinese history that Chinese people have directly
elected their leader. The statement also notes that
this is the first the first time a Chinese ruling
party has been replaced under a democratic system.
The pro-democracy party's statement says this opens
the door for democratization of mainland China. It
refers to Mr. Chen's political party, saying today's
Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan will be
tomorrow's China Democracy Party on the mainland.
Taiwan's voters ousted the Nationalist Kuomintang
Party, which has ruled the island for more than 50
years. On the mainland, the Communist Party has been
in power for the last 50 years and does not allow
opposition parties to contest its rule.
The China Democracy Party was founded in mid-1998.
But China was quick to stop its expansion. The
party's three main leaders were arrested and sentenced
to more than 10 years in prison. About 20 other
members of the group have also been imprisoned for
advocating an end to Communist Party rule in China.
Although the Democracy Party welcomed Mr. Chen's
election, it does not agree with his party's call for
Taiwan independence. It says eventual reunification
of Taiwan with the mainland must be done peacefully,
saying the use of force will result in huge losses and
bring bitterness to people on both sides of the Taiwan
Straits.
But the China Democracy Party also says the people of
Taiwan will never accept reuniting with a non-
democratic China. Therefore, the party says,
resolution of the Taiwan question rests with the
democratization of mainland China.
China has not commented on the Taiwan election in
terms of its democratic transfer of power to an
opposition party.
// REST OPTIONAL //
Beijing's official reaction, issued late Saturday,
said the election results do not change the fact that
Taiwan is part of China. And China's leaders say they
will watch what Chen Shui-bian says and does and how
he handles relations with the mainland. China also
says it is willing to talk about reunification with
any political parties on Taiwan, as long as they
adhere to the principle of one China.
Mr. Chen told reporters in Taipei (Monday) he is
willing to talk with the mainland about the idea of
one China, but that should not be the basis of the
talks. (Signed)
NEB/SMN/FC
20-Mar-2000 02:29 AM EDT (20-Mar-2000 0729 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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