CEP0021 [07/12/99 21:21:53] DM5K6702.
CEP-->BEAR
07-12-99
NO MAJOR CHANGE IN MAINLAND CHINA POLICY: MAC HEAD
Taipei, July 12 (CNA) Taiwan on Monday said that it will not make
any major changes in its policy toward mainland China, despite the
substantially redefined cross-Taiwan Strait relations.
"We will continue to seek to promote cross-strait exchanges and
dialogues as we have moved to clarify the existing situation on the
two sides of the Taiwan Strait," said Su Chi, chairman of the
Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council (MAC).
Su was referring to a statement made by President Lee Teng-hui
during an interview with Germany's Deutsche Welle broadcasting system
last Saturday that Taipei has redefined its relations with Beijing as
"state-to-state, or at least special state-to-state relations."
Claiming that Taipei will no longer define the Republic of China
and the People's Republic of China as "two equal political entities
on both sides of the Taiwan Strait," Su said that the redefinition
will enable both Taipei and Beijing to end their convoluted "one
China" dispute of the past.
He said that once Taipei and Beijing are on an equal footing,
there will be "unlimited room with regard to the topics that may be
raised in future cross-strait negotiations, adding that the topics
might even include the political issues that Beijing has demanded for
so long."
Su described Lee's statement as realistic, consistent and
creative.
He said that Beijing has never ruled the Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen
and Matsu area since the establishment of the PRC in 1949, and that
it is both political and legal reality that the governments of the
ROC and the PRC rule the Taiwan and mainland areas, respectively.
Su said that Taiwan's mainland policy has been formed "in
accordance with public opinion" and that the policy itself will not
undergo any major change in the immediate future.
He blamed Beijing for the stagnant state of cross-strait ties,
saying that with the approach of the new century, "a new idea (like
that put forward by Lee)" is needed in order to open up a new era for
positive cross-strait exchanges.
Su urged Beijing to be practical, and join hands with Taiwan to
develop a healthy Taiwan-mainland relationship.
(By Bear Lee)
ENDITEM/J
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