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DATE=10/10/2000

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-267695

TITLE=CHINA-TAIWAN (L-O)

BYLINE=LETA HONG FINCHER

DATELINE=BEIJING

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: China is refusing to budge on its position on Taiwan, despite Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian's renewed offer to pursue long-lasting peace with the mainland. As Beijing Correspondent Leta Hong Fincher reports, China insists that Taiwan recognize it is a part of China before the two sides can resume dialogue.

TEXT: China's Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Zhu Bangzao, has rebuffed Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian's overture of peace. Mr. Chen had reached out anew to Beijing in his speech marking Taiwan's National Day, saying he wanted to pursue long-lasting peace with China.

/// ZHU ACT IN CHINESE, THEN FADE ///

But Mr. Zhu told reporters in a regular briefing that the two sides can only sit down and talk after Taiwan accepts the one-China principle. Under this principle, Taiwan would admit that it is a part of China and Beijing is its sole legitimate government.

The Taiwanese president said in his speech that Beijing should put aside disputes and break the deadlock with Taiwan, to achieve what he called a win-win situation. But Mr. Chen refused to accept Beijing's conditions for resuming talks, saying that any resolution of Taiwan's future must respect the will of the 23-million people of Taiwan.

Mr. Chen has made repeated offers of dialogue with Chinese leaders since he became president in May. But Beijing has refused to hold direct talks with Taiwan until it accepts on the one-China principle. Beijing remains deeply suspicious of Mr. Chen, because he was a former advocate of independence for Taiwan.

China considers Taiwan a renegade province, and has threatened to use force against the island if it declares independence or drags its feet on reunification with the mainland. Beijing suspended semi-official talks with Taiwan in July last year after former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui called for equal, sovereign status for Taiwan. (SIGNED)

NEB/HK/LHF/JO/RAE