DATE=12/20/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=MACAU/TAIWAN REACT (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-257314
BYLINE=DERRICK MCELHERON
DATELINE=TAIPEI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Taiwan has rejected predictions by Chinese
president Jiang Zemin, during Macau's hand-over
celebrations Monday, that the island will soon
become the next territory to be reunified with
the mainland. As Derrick McElheron reports from
Taipei, the island's politicians say Taiwan is
fundamentally different from Macau or Hong Kong.
TEXT: Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council quickly
downplayed any chance of early reunification
talks with Beijing. During the Macau handover,
Chinese President Jiang Zemin commented that the
question of Taiwan would be dealt with soon.
In his speech, President Jiang said the "one
country, two systems" approach used in Hong Kong
is a huge success. Mr. Jiang says the model --
which grants the former British colony a high
degree of autonomy -- will be followed when
Taiwan is reunified with the mainland.
But cross-strait relations officials here in
Taiwan say that would be a step backwards for a
democratic society like Taiwan, even though it
might look like a step forward for mainland
China.
Paris Chiang, an opposition D-P-P party
legislator says "one-country-two systems" does
not appeal to the people of Taiwan.
/// ACT CHIANG ///
We don't believe that "one country-two systems"
works very well even in Hong Kong. In the past
two years Hong Kong's economic condition and
freedom of the press and civil rights of the
people have gone down. And I don't believe that
China has set a good example about the governing
of Hong Kong.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Chiang also says that unlike Macau and Hong
Kong, which were both former colonies, Taiwan is
an independent nation with a democratically
elected government.
Still, most analysts in Taiwan agree that with
Hong Kong and Macau now reunified with the
mainland, pressure from Beijing will begin to
intensify.
The analysts say just how much pressure Beijing
is prepared to exert will best be gauged in the
aftermath of Taiwan's presidential election,
which is scheduled for this March.
NEB/DM/FC
20-Dec-1999 01:14 AM EDT (20-Dec-1999 0614 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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