DATE=10/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240229
TITLE=CHINA / TAIWAN (L)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKINSON
DATELINE=SHANGHAI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINA AND TAIWAN HAVE MOVED CLOSER TO RESUMING A FORMAL
DIALOGUE DESPITE DIFFERENCES ON WHAT SUBJECTS SHOULD BE BROUGHT
UP AT FORMAL TALKS. V-O-A CORESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTS
FROM SHANGHAI THAT THE BITTER RIVALS' TOP NEGOTIATORS AGREED TO
STUDY THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF ROUTINE TALKS THAT WERE BROKEN OFF
THREE YEARS AGO.
TEXT: NEGOTIATORS KOO CHEN-FU -- FOR TAIWAN -- AND WANG DAOHAN
-- FOR CHINA -- INSTRUCTED THEIR SENIOR AIDES TO STEP UP THEIR
CONTACTS AND LOOK INTO WAYS TO RESTORE A SYSTEMATIC DIALOGUE
ACROSS THE TAIWAN STRAIT.
MR. KOO INVITED MR. WANG TO VISIT TAIWAN AND SUGGESTED HE DO SO
DURING TAIWAN'S ELECTIONS IN DECEMBER. THE TAIWANESE MAKE MUCH
OF THE FACT THAT THEIR ISLAND IS A THRIVING DEMOCRACY AND HAVE
RESISTED CHINESE SUGGESTIONS THAT TAIWAN REUNITE WITH THE
MAINLAND, SAYING THEY WILL ONLY CONSDER DOING SO WHEN CHINA
ITSELF BECOMES A DEMOCRACY.
TSAI ING-WEN, AN AIDE TO MR. KOO, SAYS HER BOSS THINKS IT WOULD
BE A GOOD IDEA IF HIS CHINESE COUNTERPART WERE TO PERSONALLY SEE
HOW TAIWAN'S DEMOCRACY OPERATES AND HOW IT SHAPES TAIWANESE
ATTITUDES TOWARD THE MAINLAND. SHE SAYS CHINA AND TAIWAN BOTH
AGREE THAT THEY MUST MAINTAIN CLOSER CONTACT.
//// TSAI ACTUALITY ////
BOTH SIDES REALIZE THAT WE CAN'T STAND STILL AND THAT WE
HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD, AND THERE'S A GREAT NEED FOR BOTH
SIDES TO COOPERATE AND TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS NOW
FACING US. AND AS FAR AS THE TAIWANESE SIDE IS
CONCERNED, WE WOULD LIKE TO SHOW THE DEMOCRACY AND
MODERNIZATION OF TAIWAN SO THAT THEY CAN GET A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF THE WAY WE THINK AND APPROACH MATTERS,
INCLUDING MATTERS RELATED TO MAINLAND AFFAIRS.
//// END ACTUALITY ////
BUT MR. WANG'S TOP AIDE, TANG SHUBEI, TURNED DOWN THE OFFER TO
WITNESS THE ELECTIONS AND SAID HIS BOSS WILL VISIT TAIWAN
SOMETIME NEXT YEAR.
////TANG ACTUALITY (IN CHINESE) ESTABLISH AND FADE/////
HE SAYS MR. WANG IS WILLING TO VISIT THE ISLAND TO UNDERSTAND THE
SITUATION THERE BETTER BUT THAT THE CHINESE NEGOTIATOR'S SCHEDULE
FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR IS TIED UP.
MR. TANG SAID FUTURE TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES WILL COVER ALL
ISSUES, INCLUDING BOTH THE POLITICAL MATTERS CHINA WANTS TO
DISCUSS AND THE PRACTICAL DAY-TO-DAY ISSUES SUCH AS FISHING
RIGHTS THAT TAIWAN IS STRESSING.
BUT CHINA AND TAIWAN REMAIN AS DIVIDED AS EVER ON THE FUNDAMENTAL
QUESTION OF REUNIFICATION. TAIWAN WANTS TO BE TREATED AS AN
EQUAL. CHINA INSISTS TAIWAN IS PART OF CHINA.
ONE POSSIBLE SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION IN FUTURE TALKS IS AN END TO
TAIWAN'S BAN ON DIRECT TRADE, TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION
WITH CHINA. BUT TAIWAN THURSDAY SAID THAT, BEFORE THAT CAN
HAPPEN, CHINA MUST STOP THREATENING TAIWAN MILITARILY AND END ITS
CAMPAIGN TO ISOLATE THE ISLAND DIPLOMATICALLY. CHINA SHOWS NO
SIGNS OF BUDGING ON EITHER OF THOSE ISSUES. (SIGNED)
NEB/RW/KL
15-Oct-98 9:07 AM EDT (1307 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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