DATE=5/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-TAIWAN FLEXIBILITY (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262681
BYLINE=LETA HONG FINCHER
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: China may be backing away from its hard-line
conditions for restarting talks with Taiwan - just
days after island inaugurated a new president. V-O-
A's Leta Hong Fincher reports from Beijing it appears
Chinese officials could be willing to be more flexible
about the meaning of the "one-China" policy.
TEXT: For the past few months, China has insisted
that Taiwan accept the so-called "one-China" principle
before talks begin. That principle states there is
only one China, and Taiwan is a part of it. But a
senior Chinese official says both sides can sit down
and talk without a common agreement on the one-China
principle.
/// OFFICIAL ACT 1 IN CHINESE, EST. THEN
FADE ///
The official, who requested anonymity, says Chinese
leaders are what he calls - pragmatists. He says, as
such they are aware that if they insist the Taiwanese
first accept the People's Republic of China as the
sole legal government of all of China then Taiwan will
not enter negotiations. Therefore, he says, Beijing
is willing to be more flexible.
/// OFFICIAL ACT 2 IN CHINESE, EST. THEN
FADE ///
The official says Chinese leaders hope new Taiwanese
President Chen Shui-bian will, over time, continue to
move towards the goal of accepting the one-China
principle. He says the Chinese hope the time period
will be as short as possible.
The fact that the senior official requested anonymity
shows how sensitive the issue of resuming talks with
Taiwan is in Beijing.
China's official public position has not changed. At
the regular press briefing (Tuesday), the Foreign
Ministry spokeswoman rejected the notion that China
had in any way changed its attitude toward Taiwan.
She said Beijing still reserves the right to use force
if Taiwan delays negotiations about reunification with
the mainland. (SIGNED)
NEB/LHF/JO/RAE
23-May-2000 08:03 AM EDT (23-May-2000 1203 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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