DATE=10/11/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=TAIWAN-CHINA
NUMBER=5-44465
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=TAIPEI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Taiwan's President Lee Teng-hui used the
opportunity of the island's National Day celebration
Sunday to re-iterate his statement describing ties
with China as special state-to-state relations. The
Taiwanese stance has ushered in a new period of
tension between Taipei and Beijing and as V-O-A's
Stephanie Ho reports from Taipei, President Lee's
comments Sunday leave question marks about the future
of the cross-strait relationship.
TEXT: China and Taiwan both mark their national days
within the first two weeks of October.
On October first, China celebrated its 50th birthday.
On October tenth, or Double Ten Day, Taiwan marked the
88th anniversary of the Republic of China -- the
government that fled to the island in 1949, after
losing a civil war to the communists.
The Taiwan government called off most public
activities to mark the day because the island is still
recovering from a strong earthquake that struck in
September. But in a subdued speech at the
presidential hall Sunday, Taiwan president Lee Teng-
hui said he was not making any changes to his earlier
statements on cross-strait relations.
// Lee Chinese act - in full, fade out //
The comment from President Lee that aggravates Beijing
the most is his call for China to treat Taiwan as an
equal state.
The Taiwan government's top official for China - Su
Chi, the chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council -
says Taipei is not planning to retract this statement.
// SU ENGLISH ACT //
Only on an equal basis are we even willing to engage
in political talks. So, this is not a new policy.
This is merely a clarification of the present reality.
// END ACT //
Mr. Su says both sides believe in a one China policy -
the difference is just in the interpretation of what
that policy means. He compares cross-strait ties to
personal relationships.
// SU ENGLISH ACT //
They (China) are accusing us of seeking a divorce from
the marriage. But in our mind, the Taiwan question is
a marriage issue. It is not a divorce issue. Both
sides are not yet married.
// END ACT //
China has proposed reunifying Taiwan under a one
country, two systems plan - similar to the deal struck
with Hong Kong when the former British colony returned
to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. But Mr. Su says
Taiwan does not want to be treated as a former
colonial territory.
// SU ENGLISH ACT //
If that is to be accepted, then we do not have to
negotiate. If we negotiate, then we would only be
negotiating surrender. And how can we do that? We
did not work in Taiwan so hard for 50 years just to
become a colony, just to become a province of a
communist government. No, we do not want to do that.
// END ACT //
The government's position is not without its
challengers on Taiwan. Writer, television
personality, former political prisoner and
presidential candidate, Li Ao, is among them. He says
he feels Taiwan cannot gain independence from China
and so the best choice would be to accept Beijing's
one country, two systems deal for 50 years.
// LI CHINESE ACT - IN FULL, FADE OUT //
Mr. Li says this way, Chinese people will be able to
choose between two different systems - not just the
communist one. He adds, though, that this issue is
nearly taboo among the Taiwan mainstream - which means
it is very rarely discussed openly.
One of the reasons is the depth of distrust many
Taiwanese have of the government in Beijing. Mr. Li
says one incident from the recent earthquake
illustrates the gap between Taiwan and China.
// opt Li Chinese act - in full, fade out //
He says Taiwanese media wrongly reported that Beijing
delayed a Russian relief team from coming to the
island to help, right after the September 21st quake.
He says this false report is just another example of
how people in Taiwan always want to believe the worst
about China. (signed)
NEB/HO/FC/PLM
11-Oct-1999 04:36 AM EDT (11-Oct-1999 0836 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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