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Chen: No independence unless PRC attacks

u>Taiwan Headlines January 31, 2000

Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian said on Sunday that Taiwan will not declare independence unless it came under military attack from mainland China.

"Unless Beijing intends to carry out military action, the Democratic Progressive Party sees no need to, and will absolutely not, arbitrarily declare Taiwan independence," Chen was quoted by the Taiwan News as saying. He added that President Lee Teng-hui's "special state-to-state relations" theory would not be enshrined in the Constitution.

The former Taipei mayor made the remarks when he released a seven-point statement on cross-strait relations in response to remarks made by PRC Vice Premier Qian Qichen last Friday.

Qian, in a speech that marked the fifth anniversary of PRC President Jiang Zemin's announcement of an eight-point plan to reunify Taiwan with the mainland, warned Taiwan that any attempt to declare independence would lead to war.

Chen's seven points are; peaceful resolution and active cooperation should be the main principles of cross-strait interaction; Taiwan is already a sovereign state and does not need to declare independence; bilateral talks should be conducted, through unofficial channels if necessary; any topic can be discussed on a basis of parity and peace; Taiwan should play a more active role in the mainland's modernization and democratization; leaders of both sides should pay mutual visits.

The DPP candidate, while emphasizing that any change in Taiwan's status would have to be decided by the people as a whole, noted: "It is very clear to us that we should not call a plebiscite rashly."

Taiwan scholars said on Sunday that Qian's statements, though wholeheartedly pro-unification and anti-Taiwan independence, marked a significant departure from Beijing's former position on cross-strait relations. In his speech, Qian for the first time acknowledged that Taiwan is different to Hong Kong and Macau, although he asserted that all three are still Chinese territories.

Ma Chi-hua of National Chengchi University said that Qian's remarks constitute an olive branch extended to Taiwan. Ma said, however, that the various presidential candidates should avoid discussing "state-to-state relations" or "Taiwan independence" between now and the election.

Pan Hsih-tang of Tamkang University noted that Qian's remarks were the first open statement on the Taiwan issue since President Lee made his "state-to-state relations" comments last summer. According to Pan, Qian's statements do not deviate from mainland China's "carrots-and-sticks" approach, and constitute a warning to Taiwan's various presidential candidates against leaning towards independence.

Meanwhile, Beijing kept up its rhetoric against Taipei in an editorial published in Sunday's People's Daily. In a front-page editorial, the Communist Party newspaper renewed Qian's threat that mainland China would wage war against Taiwan if the island declared independence.

"We must sternly warn Lee Teng-hui and Taiwan independence forces that any attempt to put the 'two-states theory' into the Constitution or law or engage in Taiwan independence will destroy the basis and prospects for peaceful reunification," the editorial said.

"All are actions that are like playing with fire with the lives, property and safety of the Taiwanese people. He who plays with fire gets burned." People's Daily editorials are approved by members of mainland China's leadership and reflect official policy.