DATE=5/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-TAIWAN (L)
NUMBER=2-262601
BYLINE=LETA HONG FINCHER
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: China is signaling that dialogue with Taiwan
may go ahead even after the inauguration of a new
democratically elected president on the island. As V-
O-A's Leta Hong Fincher reports, Beijing's diplomatic
signal today/Saturday was accompanied by accusations
that Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian was being
evasive on the subject of unification with China.
TEXT: China's official reaction to the Taiwanese
President's speech accuses President Chen Shui-bian of
being evasive and ambiguous toward what it calls the
key issue of accepting that Taiwan is a part of China.
But in a statement broadcast on China's state-run
television, Beijing also held out the possibility of
an easing of tensions between the two sides.
/// CHINA TV ACT. IN CHINESE, FADE UNDER
///
The statement says China is willing to hold dialogue
with organizations or people entrusted by the Taiwan
side, if Taiwanese leaders give up their insistence on
negotiating with China as an equal, sovereign state,
and if Taiwan returns to an earlier understanding
between the two sides on the definition of one-China.
Michael Yahuda, a China analyst at the London School
of Economics, says China's new response is more
moderate in tone than many expected. He says that the
statement is promising, because for now at least,
Beijing is not threatening military action against
Taiwan.
/// YAHUDA ACT ONE ///
The Chinese are trying now to show that they are
more flexible than many people thought, and also
that they are thinking seriously as to how to
begin -- or resume, rather -- talks between the
two sides.
/// END ACT ///
In the weeks leading up to Taiwan's presidential
inauguration, China's official media repeatedly warned
of what was called "disaster" if Taiwan refused to
accept the one-China principle - that there is only
one China and that Taiwan is a part of it. But
Saturday's statement contained much milder language.
Mr. Yahuda says Beijing is now proposing that both
sides explore what each means by "one China." At the
same time, he says China's leaders will find ways to
test the new administration in Taipei, which is still
unknown to them.
///YAHUDA ACT TWO ///
I think what will happen now is that there will
be semi-official talks about talks, in which
each side will have people who are close to the
leaders and who can go and sound the other side
out as to how much room for flexibility there
may be for resuming talks.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Yahuda also says Beijing's restraint could be due
to next week's vote in the U-S House of
Representatives on legislation granting China
permanent normal trade status, which would smooth the
way for China's entry to the World Trade Organization.
(signed)
NEB/LHF/JP
20-May-2000 08:20 AM EDT (20-May-2000 1220 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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