DATE=12/2/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-223515
TITLE=CHINA / TAIWAN / L-O
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINA HAS WARNED TAIWAN IT WILL NOT RULE OUT THE USE OF
FORCE, IF THE ISLAND MAKES ANY MOVE TOWARD INDEPENDENCE. AS WE
HEAR FROM V-O-A'S ROGER WILKISON IN BEIJING, THE WARNING FROM
CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY CAME AFTER A PRO-SEPARATIST PARTY
EMERGED VICTORIOUS IN TAIWAN'S LOCAL ELECTIONS.
TEXT: FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN TANG GUOQIANG TOLD REPORTERS
CHINA STILL HOPES FOR PEACEFUL REUNIFICATION WITH THE ISLAND IT
REGARDS AS A RENEGADE PROVINCE. BUT, HE SAYS BEIJING WILL
OPPOSE ANY ATTEMPT ON THE PART OF PRO-INDEPENDENCE ELEMENTS IN
TAIWAN TO -- IN HIS WORDS -- SPLIT THE ISLAND FROM THE
MOTHERLAND.
MR. TANG'S REMARKS FOLLOW THE VICTORY OF TAIWAN'S DEMOCRATIC
PROGRESSIVE PARTY IN SATURDAY'S LOCAL ELECTIONS. THE D-P-P --
MANY OF WHOSE LEADERS HAVE VOICED PRO-INDEPENDENCE SENTIMENTS --
STUNNED THE RULING NATIONALISTS BY WINNING 12 OF THE 23 MAYORAL
AND COUNTY MAGISTRATE RACES AT STAKE. THE PARTY PLEDGED TO AVOID
CONFRONTATION WITH CHINA. STILL, BEIJING MADE IT CLEAR THAT IT
DOES NOT RULE OUT THE USE OF FORCE, IF PRO-INDEPENDENCE FORCES
TRY TO CREATE WHAT MR. TANG CALLED A NEW SITUATION.
/////TANG (IN CHINESE) IN AND UNDER/////
THE SPOKESMAN SAYS CHINA'S RELUCTANCE TO RENOUNCE THE USE OF
FORCE IS NOT AIMED AT WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS TAIWAN COMPATRIOTS.
HE SAYS THE TARGET IS FOREIGNERS WHO MEDDLE IN CHINA'S INTERNAL
AFFAIRS AND AT FORCES ADVOCATING INDEPENDENCE FOR TAIWAN.
SUCH RHETORIC IS NOT NEW. THE FOREIGNERS IN QUESTION ARE USUALLY
TAKEN TO MEAN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH HAS ARMED TAIWAN, DESPITE
RECOGNIZING BEIJING AS CHINA'S ONLY GOVERNMENT.
THE PRO-INDEPENDENCE ELEMENTS MR. TANG CRITICIZED ARE THOSE
LEADERS OF THE D-P-P WHO WANT TO DECLARE TAIWAN'S FORMAL
INDEPENDENCE, AFTER NEARLY FIVE DECADES OF THE ISLAND'S DE FACTO
SEPARATION FROM THE MAINLAND. OTHER PARTY LEADERS HAVE SOUGHT TO
SOFT-PEDAL THE ISSUE IN FAVOR OF LOCAL TAIWANESE CONCERNS, SUCH
AS FIGHTING CRIME.
// OPT // MR. TANG SAYS THE RESULTS OF TAIWAN'S ELECTIONS CANNOT
CHANGE WHAT HE CALLS THE BASIC FACT TAIWAN IS A PROVINCE OF
CHINA. // END OPT //
BEIJING HAS LONG SHUNNED THE D-P-P. HOWEVER, AN ARTICLE IN THE
OFFICIAL "CHINA DAILY" TUESDAY QUOTES A SPOKESMAN FOR THE
GOVERNMENT AGENCY THAT HANDLES RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN AS SAYING
COUNTY AND CITY GOVERNMENTS ON THE ISLAND -- MANY OF WHICH ARE
CONTROLLED BY THE D-P-P -- SHOULD DO MORE TO DEVELOP CROSS-STRAIT
RELATIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB / CB / WD
02-Dec-97 7:00 AM EST (1200 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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