DATE=8/31/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=TAIWAN / POL (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=5-44169
BYLINE=GRACE CUTLER
DATELINE=HONG KONG
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Taiwan's call for special state-to-state
relations with China was added last Sunday to the
charter of the island's ruling party. Grace Cutler
reports from Hong Kong, Taiwanese analysts say the aim
is to put Taipei on a more equal diplomatic footing
with Beijing in cross-Strait negotiations.
TEXT: Leaders of Taiwan's ruling party say that if
China were to see the island as a political equal,
then negotiations over the entire range of issues
between them would be easier.
It was this concept that prompted the Kuomintang Party
Congress Sunday to adopt the new two-states
resolution.
Ming Chu-Cheng, who heads the Political Science
Department at National Taiwan University in Taipei
says the K-M-T's move reflects the popular mood in
Taiwan.
// MING ACT //
I think it reflects the general mentality of the
general population in this country, because we
do see ourselves as a state.
// END ACT //
Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province and its
leaders have vowed that China will use force to stop
the island from declaring its independence.
But while Sunday's K-M-T move was the first time the
new state-to-state relations declaration has been
included in a formal document in Taiwan, the K-M-T
stopped short of recommending its incorporation into
the island's constitution.
Jean Pierre Cabestan, of the French Research Center
for Contemporary China in Hong Kong, says one reason
for preserving the constitution, as is, is not to
further anger China.
//CABESTAN ACT//
It will make things more complicated and maybe
be perceived by China as a further sign of
splitism. That is something that the Kuomintang
wants to avoid.
//END ACT//
The resolution also stated Taiwan would continue to
pursue a new China based on peaceful and democratic
union with the mainland in the future.
After President Lee Teng-hui's controversial July
ninth statement, Beijing canceled negotiations over
scheduled cross-strait talks, planed for later this
year. Chinese officials also renewed threats to use
military force.
National Taiwan University's Professor Ming says
despite China's anger, Taipei officials believe they
are now in a better bargaining position.
//MING ACT//
Before we issued the statement, they (China)
were the side that took all the initiatives
calling for negotiations. And after we made the
statement it was us that takes the initiative
and they were the ones who declined the whole
thing. So you can see that it strengthened our
position in terms of negotiation.
//END ACT//
Sunday's two states resolution was approved by an
overwhelming majority at the K-M-T Congress, but some
party members sharply disagreed, saying the new policy
is an unnecessary provocation of the mainland.
(SIGNED)
NEB/GC/FC
31-Aug-1999 08:31 AM LOC (31-Aug-1999 1231 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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