Experts rebuke Chen Shui-bian's peace talk as 'hoax'
February 04, 2004
Leading mainland experts on Taiwan studies yesterday criticized Taiwan
leader Chen Shui-bian's latest peace overtures as "nothing new'' and
"a hoax aimed at wooing votes.''
Chen outlined the so-called "peace and stability framework'' that he
hopes to establish across the Straits at a news conference Tuesday.
Under the framework, he proposed to set up a demilitarized zone, push
exchanges of special envoys and establish liaison offices between Taipei
and Beijing.
The Taiwan leader's new proposals came weeks after he called for a
"holy war'' against the mainland.
"All of Chen's proposals are full of hackneyed and stereotyped
expressions, but lack the least amount of sincerity,'' said Li Jiaquan, a
senior researcher with the Institute of Taiwan Studies under the Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences.
Li said Chen has based his proposals on a wrong precondition that will
never be acceptable to the Chinese mainland.
The leader has attempted to stake his claim of "one country on each
side (of the Straits)'' into his proposals, according to the researcher.
On August 3, 2002, Chen inflamed new tensions in cross-Straits relations
by preaching that "each side (of the Taiwan Straits) is a country.''
Beijing, however, has stood firm on the one-China principle that both
Taiwan and the mainland are part of China.
Li stressed that Chen's proposals will amount to nothing if he still
refuses to embrace the one-China principle and continues his push for
Taiwan independence.
"Can you expect Beijing to talk about how to split Taiwan from China
with the Taiwan authorities?'' he asked.
Professor Xu Bodong, director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies with the
Beijing Union University, described Chen's moves as an attempt to woo
votes in the upcoming "presidential'' elections on March 20.
Facing intense criticism over his plans to hold a "defensive
referendum'' alongside the polls, Chen had to play word games to divert
public attention, he said.
Along with his recent provocative actions towards Beijing, Xu added, Chen
was now trying hard to create a false impression that he wants to improve
relations with the mainland.
"Chen's new overture is nothing but an election gambit aimed at
covering up his pro-independence conspiracy and winning votes in the
elections,'' said Xu.
"He is apparently using these overtures to cheat the Taiwanese
public and the international community, so as to boost his chances of
re-election.''
Chen's scheme to hold the "defensive referendum'' is widely believed
to be a step towards paving the way for an independence plebiscite.
Beijing condemned it as "one-sided provocation'' to peace and
stability in bilateral ties.
Even some foreign governments have questioned the plan.
US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said on Friday that the
wording of the referendum raised questions about Taiwan's motive.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhang Qiyue said Armitage's
statement reiterated the recent US stance on the Taiwan issue including
adhering to the one-China policy, abiding by the three Sino-US joint
communiques, opposing Taiwan independence and any word or activity of the
Taiwan authority to change the status quo of Taiwan.
When asked for comment on Chen's latest peace proposals, the US State
Department reportedly said that Washington will do its utmost to make
sure that there is no conflict.
"We want to reiterate that the United States opposes any unilateral
action that might change the status quo in the cross-Strait area,'' State
Department spokesman Lou Fintor was quoted as saying by Reuters.
French President Jacques Chirac also described Chen's referendum move as
a "grave error'' and said Chen's initiative was dangerous for the
whole world.
Source: China Daily
NEWSLETTER
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|