Taipei, Sept. 6 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said on Monday it will not comment on US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Susan Shirk's proposal that Beijing offer a "one country, three systems" formula for unification with Taiwan.
"Before we get a full understanding of Shirk's remarks, we won't make any comment on her proposal," MOFA acting spokesman Henry Chen said, adding that the ministry has ordered the Republic of China's representative office in Washington, D.C. to obtain first-hand information about the full text of Shirk's statement.
Shirk was quoted by the local press as having said at a seminar on Sunday that mainland China should a adopt a more flexible, innovative policy toward Taiwan. For instance, Shirk reportedly has suggested that Beijing replace its "one country, two systems" scheme with a "one country, three systems" formula to attract Taiwan to negotiate for China's eventual unification.
According to press reports, Shirk also said at the seminar sponsored by a US-based mainland Chinese academics association that Beijing should let Taiwan know that its fate won't be similar to Hong Kong's. Hong Kong, a former British colony, reverted to Beijing's rule under a "one country, two systems" framework on July 1, 1997.
Shirk further urged communist China not to block Taiwan's participation in international economic, scientific and technological organizations.
Responding to press inquiries about he ROC's stance, Chen said the ministry can't make any comment at the moment because it still lacks full information about the text of Shirk's speech.
"It's inappropriate to interpret Shirk's remarks out of the context," Chen said.
Some MOFA officials in charge of US-related affairs said it remains unclear what Shirk's "one country, three systems" proposal means. "We need to check the true meaning of Shirk's remarks before we make any response," said an official with MOFA's North American Affairs Department. (By Sofia Wu)
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